First water change question

Exactly my experience. In my short experience, I feel that those that start off with a W/C like this, always have to do them to keep nitrates down... (<- that is not fact, just how it seems to me). I waited for my nitrates to drop. My cycle took about 3 or 4 weeks but the nitrates didn't drop for a couple of months - but they just suddenly disappeared and I've never detected any since (oh, about 7 months ago or so).

I really want to point it out because of what you said next:

You are buying your water from this guy, right? From his POV, the more you change your water, the more money he makes... his motives may or may not be selfish... I am always leary of LFS advise. (is that how you spell leary?)

 

Ok let's say I don't do the water change. When is the Nitrate level a danger situation? right now on a quality test kit between 2 shades and the colorchart says 20ppm and 40ppm. Also on a second cheap 5 in 1 strip test it read 30 ppm. I really don't mind not changing water. I think that would be great. Anymore opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

If two chromis and hermit crabs are all you have, I'd let it ride--but that's just me.

 

Agreed. Let it get to the point that nitrates are no longer a problem. Makes everything easier down the road.

 

Yeah, really nitrates aren't the worst you have to worry about. It's the nirtites and especially ammonia you need to worry about. Supposedly during a cycle, your are supposed to test for ammonia almost every day until you see it turn into nitrite, then nitrate. Nitrate is the least harmful toxin but in large amounts and over a period of time it's a killer. You should also be checking your pH during this period. You are not suppose to do any water changes during a cycle. You are trying to let the bacteria form correctly and by stopping it mid-evolution, you are shortening it's strength and superhuman powers. haha. Anyways, test for the nitrates and watch it as they spike, if they start climbing past like 100ppm then I would take the livestock out and let the tank do it's thing. But most likely it will go up and then back down and once it's at 0 you can start adding other fish...SLOWLY so the system can adjust to the new load.

And trust me, 20-40ppm isn't bad at all. My shark catfish were doing fine in almost 100ppm+ before I started water changes for them. But I don't think they were subjected to this level for that long. Just let your tank mature is all I can advise.