Water change during cycling?

[boyer]

I did some searching and have found conflicting answers. My tank has been running for about a week and a half. It's a 12gallon, 20lbs of live sand and about 10lbs of live rock and 5 lbs of base rock. I did use bio spira, don't quite know if it worked at all, I ended up using two clown fish that I purchased for cheap to help with the cycle, they are known to be very hardy fish like damsels.

My question is, I have been testing my water, just PH and Nitrates right now, My PH is 8.1-8.3 an my Nitrates are roughly 15-20ppm, should I do a partial water change to bring my nitrates down, my fish seem to be very happy and energetic. I'm just not sure if I should ride the wave out and wait for them to fall, I am running my skimmer.

Any advice would be appreciated, I was thinking about doing a 2gallong change, so roughly 10%? not even?

-Chris

 

[RcToners]

I am pro water changes

Read this and maybe it will help you decide

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2009-04/newbie/index.php

 

[walkthedog]

My advise would be to take the fish back and see if they will hold them until your cycle is done. Yea they might live thru the cycle but it's not good to do that to the fish. I side on no water changes till the cycle is done. It only makes the cycle take longer. If you don't plan on taking the fish back then yea water changes will be good. It will drop the nitrates down. Better for the fish. If you take the fish back then stop the water changes. Run the skimmer and wait. Your live rock will make the cycle start. You don't need the fish. Good luck with the tank.