Water change or not ???

[jdivz87]

1 week 1 day start of cycle - ammonia 0.4 and nitrate 1 or slightly higher. What should I know? Should I perform a water change

 

[tbrown]

You're likely going to get mixed responses on this. It's entirely up to you. The fact that you have both ammonia and nitrates means the nitrogen cycle is working but not finished. Personally I'd let it keep going until the ammonia is gone.

 

[jdivz87]

Okay that’s what I figured because I keep seeing that nitrite being so high isn’t good but others say, it’s working leave it alone … ammonia was super high a few days ago so clear it’s going down and nitrite wasn’t that hugh

 

[Garf]

1 week 1 day start of cycle - ammonia 0.4 and nitrate 1 or slightly higher. What should I know? Should I perform a water change

May as well just use up the ammonia, or you didn't need to put as much in.

 

[tbrown]

Do you have fish in the tank?

 

[jdivz87]

May as well just use up the ammonia, or you didn't need to put as much in.

What do you mean by this?

 

[jdivz87]

Do you have fish in the tank?

No fish it’s in its first week of cycle

 

[tbrown]

If there's no fish, definitely let it run it's course. Nitrites and ammonia won't hurt anything with no fish.

 

[Garf]

What do you mean by this?

By changing the water you are reducing the fuel the bacteria require, making for a poorer cycle. That may not matter, just that it seems a waste.

 

[Science/G]

No water change until ammonia and nitrite are zero.