After cycle, 100% H2O change??

[DANE MFG]

Was just wondering after my tank cycles would there be any ill affect if I did a 100% water change. All I have in the tank (20gal) is my LR. I have Nitrates testing at over 100PPM so I figured doing a water change when finished cycling would help cut down on the them.

 

[newreefman1]

No. that wont help....Do a few 20 -30 percent changes. That will help you more. AFter you tank cycles too, your nitrates will come down. Just be patient young jedi. lol

J

 

[mariner]

If you do a 100% water change you will have to start your cycle all over again.

 

[Anonymous]

> If you do a 100% water change you will have to start your cycle all over again.

hi.
Are you sure about that? I am not saying that 100% water change is useful or not in the poster's case, but doing it will not necessarily bring another cycle unless it was done carelessly, and with dieoffs...

 

[Chucker]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by newreefman1:
<strong>No. that wont help....Do a few 20 -30 percent changes. That will help you more. AFter you tank cycles too, your nitrates will come down. Just be patient young jedi. lol

J</strong><hr></blockquote>

That depends on what the original poster is trying to achieve. If the goal is an immediate reduction in nitrate levels, multiple small changes will accomplish next to nothing. For more on the subject, check

tb's article in the library.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

100% water change will not cause any problem. Make suer that the rock do not expose to air too long (4-5 hrs) I just cant see it tank ore than 15 min to change 100% water for a 20 g tank.
Make sure the salinity and temperature of the water matched to decrease stress to the animal in the rock. The new salt water need to be airated and have being mixed for at least 24 hr. Newly mix salt water will kill the worms and animals in the tank.

 

[DANE MFG]

Thanks for all the responses. My main concern was after the cycle the Nitrate is the end result, instead of letting algae use it up I figured I'd just eliminate it with a water change. I don't think it would cycle again because of the reasons sited above, as far as harming livestock all I have in the tank is the LR. I think I'll just do a 50% to be safe. Thanks to all, John

 

[mariner]

I'm pretty sure it'll start the cycle over. You put rock in a tank and add water....what happens....your tank begins to cycle. You take all of the conditioned water out and put new water in....what'll happen.....the cycle starts.

 

[EmilyB]

I would be more concerned about the shock factor to any living organisms. I'd feel comfortable at 50% or so at that stage.

 

[Anonymous]

Okay I guess it's time for Aquarium 101:

Cycle - establishing a bacteria colony in a biological filter.

Cure - allowing for the death and decomposition of marine sponges and other animals that haven't survived exposure to air and shipping. NOTE: The bacterial colonies of the nitrogen cycle already exist in sufficient quantities for regular filtration but the pollution overwhelms the current population.

When you place rock in a marine aquarium for the most part you are NOT cycling. You are curing. Yes bacterial will grow and spread but it essentially already exists.

Those bacteria exist ON A SUBSTRATE NOT in the water. Doing a water change will have NO effect on the bacterial colonies and will not cause a new cycle. However unless the pH, Salinity and Temp are identical to the old water, massive water changes may cause stress to any animals in the tank.