Water change

[laserjim]

My tank is about done cycling ..25 nitrite 0 ammonia 20 nitrate.How much water should I change out. 46 gal tank,15 gal sump. thanks for your advice.

Jim

 

[Marinemom]

Ideally you want ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate all sitting at 0 to be considered fully cycled. With a water change I usually change out about 15%.

Marinemom

 

[bertoni]

I'd do a few 15-20% changes at this point. Running some carbon will also help remove some types of decay products.

 

[laserjim]

Thanks everyone. Its nice to be able to get other opinions on things like this.Its a great forum. I think I will sign up tonight to be a premium member. Give a little back you know.

 

[pbukow]

Definately want ammonia/nitites to be zero b4 a water change. I've heard you can remove the bacteria that is converting these chemicals into less harmful nitrates which can be removed thru anaerobic bacteria that live in deep sand beds(4-5inches) and some people have said that they have large pieces of live rock that don't get oxygen to their core and breed these bacteria and help with the denitrafication process. Also macroalgeas (caulerpa, cheatomorphea, etc) remove nitrates as well.

 

[Joshua1023]

I'd do a 50% water change at this point. Give it a week and do a 20%. You'll probrably be just about done at that point.

 

[tk1360]

what you are going t get from this is that everyone has their own method. Personally because of my current configuration I find smaller changes easier but that will depend on your setup.

Figure water changes are your nutrient export so do whatever you are comfortable with and realize if you still find things are not to your liking you can just mix up some more water.

 

[Joshua1023]

Well said.