1st Water Change

[taat2d]

My tank is up and running with LR and LS for 4 days. I have about 90lbs of rock. When do I do the first water change?

 

[NYreefNoob]

water change

after the tank cycles, wait a month to be safe and test all parameters

 

[taat2d]

Oh really? I'm not sure where I read it but SOmewhere I read water changes every other day or weekly. I was always under the impression to wait at least a month too.

 

[DEEPWATER]

I would do a water change every 3 to 4 day at 1st ,then cut it down to about 20 gals evey 5 to 7 days till the cycle is done,,just helps remove all that yukky water

 

[basiab]

The more often you change the water the longer the cycling will take. However changing water does lessen the toxicity of the water so you may end up with more live stuff once the cycling is done.

 

[taat2d]

The more often you change the water the longer the cycling will take. However changing water does lessen the toxicity of the water so you may end up with more live stuff once the cycling is done.

I think I'll take my chances and wait. My son is dying to see Nemo. LOL The quicker the cycle the better.

 

[Henrye]

Still, check your ammonia/nitrite/trate every other day. If you leave ammonia levels too high (I use 1 ppm as a firm cutoff) you'll actually inhibit bacterial growth and end up with a longer cycle. Same for nitrites (1-2 ppm). All are manageable by 20-30% w/c's. After a week or so of only nitrates, 0 amm/nitrite, I would do a large ~50% w/c. If you're still stable after several days, you should be set. Don't try to rush the cycle by throwing in food to rot. Just let it complete the process at it's own pace and you'll be fine. Didi your rock come uncured or pre-cured, because that will determine how long your cycle is likely to be. Also, when you say live sand, do you mean the sand in a bag with a little water like Agra-alive, or LS specifically ordered by the pound. These factors will help figure out approximately how long the process will be.

Henry

 

[taat2d]

I bought that Agra-sand. And about 80 pounds of the rock was cured. I added about 10 pounds of Tonga branch rock that is uncured..... I think The rock has alot of algea on it and pretty fuzzy.