Cycle

[Derek C]

I have completed the cycle 2ppm goes away in 12 hours. But Nitrates are HUGE. Can I do a 100% water change or do I only change half? Changing half would only take out half the nitrates right?

 

[Coralreefer1]

Water change wouldn’t help much, however, the nitrate level would rise back up again. You need to wait for the nitrobacter and denitrifying bacteria to grow to handle the bioload in your tank.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You can do a 100% water change yes.
50% is fine too.

It’s actually what is and has been reccomend for decades after the cycle is complete.

The intitual addition of ammonia (generally a large one with shrimp or pure ammonia ) will naturally spike the no3.

Eventually the bacteria will will also reduce the no3 as it is consumed by them, but at start up it most definitely won’t.