water change after tank cycles

[LeslieS]

Once my tank is finished cycling, how big of a water change should I do? I have found suggestions from 10-100%.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

10% -20% I would say. Test after that to see if your water parameters are at an acceptable level and then go (slow) from there.

 

[LeslieS]

Thanks - that make sense.

 

[marrone]

First if your tank has cycled, no ammonia or Nitrites, then check your Nitrates. If your Nitrates are high that will give you an idea of how large your water should be. You want to bring your Nitrates down under 10 or lower, as close to zero as possible. So the higher your Nitrates are the large the water change will be, also you want to try and siphon any dead or junk off the LR and sand bed, if you have a sand bed.

Once you get the nitrates down you can start to add a cleaning crew, and if you have a sand bed critters that will move the sand around.

With the nitrates in check you can then check your Alk & Cal, and adjust it to the correct level, then start to add your first coral.

You will go through some algae bloom in the beginning, Datoms, brown algae and such, which is very common.