First water change is when?

[Daddyrawg]

Tank is cycling now, when cycle is completed Is it necessary to do a water chance for the first time before adding my first fish?

 

[mcgyvr]

Typically one does water changes right at the beginning as many times the cycling process leaves you with higher nitrate levels than one would normally like..

So you start performing water changes to reduce that level as well as jsut to get into the commonly accepted routine of 20% every 2 weeks or something to that level..

 

[feixjai]

Test your water for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.

As the cycle progresses, ammonia is processed into nitrites and then to nitrates. The water change would benefit the tank as it removes excess nitrates

 

[thegrun]

Unless your ammonia levels spike at more than 7ppm which can slow down your cycle, I would not make a water change until your cycle is complete. At the end of the cycle if your nitrate level is above 5ppm I would make as large of a water change as is reasonably possible for you.

 

[mcgyvr]

Typically one does water changes right at the beginning as many times the cycling process leaves you with higher nitrate levels than one would normally like..
.

So its clear.. by "at the beginning" I meant right after your cycle has completed..