Water change during cycle?

So what should I do? I hear some say do it others say not to do a water change until the cycle is done. Just want to know what the normal educate is.

Also I have quite a bit of brown algae going all over the place and have heard that scrubbing the rocks is also in order. What do you think about this before a water change and then after.

 

dont do a water change until after the cycle is over and all levels are down to zero.

Brown algea is normal during cycling esp towards the later part of the cycle.

How long are you running your lights? How long into cycle are you? Is there anything in your tank now?

 

I have been running my tank for 10 days and have a yellow tail in the tank as well as two hermit crabs. I am running my lights for about 4 hours a day.

 

Turn the lights off and no water changes until at least week 15. The lights are just a fuel for algae right now and that is not what you want. You will not need lights until about week 6 or 8 depending if your parameters are rock solid. You need bacteria and the fish will help get that established. You need a cleaning crew for the brown algae.

 

No water changes and a clean up crew will take care of the brown algae for you. Shouldn't scrub the rocks. Only run your actinic lights as well for now if you are going to run them.

 

Two days ago the levels were
nitrite- less then .1
nitrate- 5
ammonia-0.0

But yes the water is stating to get a bit cloudy. So you say no water changes until week 15, which would be on jan 28, which is actually my birthday hmm interesting.

 

I agree with Otty and NO WC's until you finish with cycle. Luna

 

Okey dokey. Just for the recored my cycle is done when my ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite all hit 0.0

 

Wouldent a WC prolong the cycle ??

 

In a perfect world.......YES but doesnt always go that way.

Yes it would, thats why you shouldnt do any WC will cycling. Luna