Water change question

[ReyR]

So I'm over 3 months into the hobby. I do my weekly water changes still. My question is, should I still be adding nitrifying bacteria with each water change? LFS guys said it's good habit and can't hurt the fish. Directions say 1 Oz per 30 gal with water changes is the maintenance dose. I have a 29 gallon so that's what I've been doing. I didn't add the stuff in the beginning ie...no quick start. But I've done maintenance dose with water changes and my tank completed cycle a month ago. Since I'm cycled, do I really need to do maintenance dose? My ammonia is 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate is 20-40 depending if i test before or after my water change. No skimmer, just water changes. Thanks for advice.

 

[pyithar]

i don't think you need to dose any bacteria after each water change.

 

[alf1096]

Gonna say waist of money.

 

[gone fishin]

Sounds like the LFS has a nice steady income coming in. Once cycled you do not need to keep adding it. The bacteria will become self regulating based on food source.

 

[shesacharmer]

When you cycle your tank you are cycling the rocks and the sand, not the water. That's were the beneficial bacteria live. Removing water is removing so little bacteria it hardly counts so you are wasting your money by adding the product.

 

[ReyR]

Gotcha. Thanks all food your input. Thought as much, just wanted confirmation from you all.