Cycling tank, how long before first water change?

[buggapimp5.0]

Hey all, i forgot how to cycle a tank thats how long it has been. Basically what im doing is starting a new 55 gallon live rock curing tank so that i can prepare them to be moved into my new tank once its being built a 150 gallon.

Basically what i did was get my old rocks that were all dead already and place them inside of a 55 gallon tank along with a good amount of rocks that were given to me from a buddy. I setup my lighting and water and its good to go.

Now my ammonia is through the roof and so is my nitrites and the nitrates are not that far behind. It has been up for 2 weeks today and i am wondering how long before my first water change? Am i supposed to wait for the ammonia to naturally drop first or should i start doing the water changes?

Let me know guys. Thanks

 

[DaveAngie79]

well first where did the water come from

 

[MiddletonMark]

I would water change every few days at first, then every week.

IMO + IME, there is no reason to cause a massive ammonia spike, it is far better for the life on the rocks to keep ammonia as low as you can.

 

[jeffbrig]

Agreed. No reason to let ammonia go through the roof, that'll just be more nitrate in your tank once the cycle is complete. Skim if you can, do water changes to keep it reasonably in check. Otherwise, high ammonia causes further die off, which causes higher ammonia, which causes further die off, whch causes.......see where this is heading?

 

[TekCat]

Agree with all above said. Do water changes few times a week, 25-50% at a time.

Skim as hell!!!!! While doing water changes, take out rocks and scrub off dead matter with soft brush (toothbrush works), and flush out dead gunk from pores and holes using turkey baster.