Slowing down but another q

So my tank has been running for about two weeks now, finding cool little critters maybe even a six legged starfish. The water test that I did a couple of days confirmed the readings of about 5 days ago. Water looks good but the NH3 is stuck at 12.5. Should I do a water change or leave it alone?:-/

 

Do not do a water change. Leave the tank alone and mother nature will do the rest. The tank is still cycling.

 

Eventually the ammonia (NH3) will start to drop and the nitrites (NO2) will start to rise. Finally the nitrites will start dropping and the nitrates (NO3) will start to rise and eventually start dropping to as close to zero as possible. You may not see them at zero but should hover at <5-10. Once this happens you have cycled the tank .

If you do a water change now you will prolong the cycle. A typical cycle can take on average 4-6 weeks to complete.

Good luck

 

opps, that is supposed to be NO3 stuck at 12.5 not NH3 sorry for the mess up

 

I would leave it be. In my opinion it's a little early in the game to be doing water changes. Leave it for a week or two and see what happens.
A nitrate level of 12.5 is not panic time on a finishing cycle.
You shouldn't be running lights at this time....no need for them plus they will promote algae.

 

Yes, wait til nature runs its course, like sssnake mentioned!
Good luck!!

 

cool thats what I shall do then. The lights have been off and I shall leave it alone thanks

 

Nice avatar by the way.

 

Thanks, that's me with some of the local kids, at the "7eleven" that we befriended in Iraq in 2003. Part of the good stories we don't here about here in the USA.

 

Hats off an many thanks to you sir!

Yeah its a shame all we ever hear is the bad things over here. One of my friends son's just got back, he said it was both the scariest and greatest time his life. Greatest mostly due to the way some of the people over there make you feel, kids and adults alike.

Everyone is right, take your time. Don't let the "I gotta get a fish/coral blues" take over. That day will come and you will be so glad you waited.

My last tank has been going for 6 weeks, parameters are perfect but I am still going to give it a couple of weeks before I add anything other than the snails and couple of crabs that are in there.