Hello all, I'm new to reefing and saltwater. I've been constantly researching, watching videos and reading up on the hobby for the last few months. I'm currently waiting on my 75 gallon to finish it's initial cycle. I'm doing Dr. Tim's fishless cycle and so far it's processing ammonia into nitrite/ nitrate. Still waiting on my nitrites to start coming down.
I was talking to the guy at my LFS and he knows I'm new and that I'm waiting on my cycle to finish before I get my first fish(pair of clowns). He told me I needed to bring a sample of water that is showing no nitrites, NO NITRATES and little to no ammonia. This is where I am super confused. I said okay so I need to do large(50%) water change to get rid of the nitrates and he said "no that will get rid of all the good bacteria". He then said that once the cycle is complete that the nitrates would come down.
Correct me I'm wrong but isn't water change the only way to get rid of nitrates at the point of being cycled?? Unless I have something that is consuming nitrates like Algae, Chaeto, Corals. I feel like either they are uneducated on the subject or I am.
If I am right it's a little frustrating for me that I have to bring a test showing 0 nitrates. Especially considering that's the cleanest LFS in town with the healthiest looking fish.
I was talking to the guy at my LFS and he knows I'm new and that I'm waiting on my cycle to finish before I get my first fish(pair of clowns). He told me I needed to bring a sample of water that is showing no nitrites, NO NITRATES and little to no ammonia. This is where I am super confused. I said okay so I need to do large(50%) water change to get rid of the nitrates and he said "no that will get rid of all the good bacteria". He then said that once the cycle is complete that the nitrates would come down.
Correct me I'm wrong but isn't water change the only way to get rid of nitrates at the point of being cycled?? Unless I have something that is consuming nitrates like Algae, Chaeto, Corals. I feel like either they are uneducated on the subject or I am.
If I am right it's a little frustrating for me that I have to bring a test showing 0 nitrates. Especially considering that's the cleanest LFS in town with the healthiest looking fish.