Question About Nitrogen Cycle

[Alaine]

Hi again,

I bought starter fish on Friday so my tank is three days into the Nitrogen cycle. Is it ok to do partial water changes on a regular basis? I accidentally left a blind open in the room where my aquarium is and think the sun has hit the water, forming green algae which I would like to get rid of.

I have read that you can do a partial water change every day during the nitrogen cycle, but I would just like other peoples opinions. Being a beginner I am still new to this hobby and would appreciate some help.

Thanks

 

[kris-b-]

If you are cycling with fish then you should be performing daily water changes anyway, it's only when fishless cycling that you do not perform a water change.

I'm not too sure about the algae though

 

[Alaine]

will that not affect the nitrogen cycle though?

 

[kris-b-]

The fish you have in the tank to cycle it will be exposed to ammonia as there will be no bacteria to break it down yet therefore your fish could be harmed or even die so by performing daily water changes you are lestening the risk to the fish.

 

[Alaine]

Thanks for the advice guys. Is it wise to do a 10% water change daily or shall I do more?

Also what will I do about the cloudy water. It looks brown which now makes me think it is bacterial bloom. Do I just leave it and stick with the 10% water changes?

 

[annka5]

If you've fish in there, you need to change more than 10% of the water as otherwise ammonia and nitrite will spike so high the fish will almost certainly die.
Get a test kit for ammonia and nitrites and do water changes often enough to keep them at levels the fish will survive until the tnak is cycled. This will slow the cycle down, but you don't have much of a choice with fish in there.
The bacteria/algae bloom is normal in newly set up tanks; you just need to give it time to settle. It shouldn't harm your fish any.

 

[Alaine]

I tested the water today, there is still no nitrite in it, so I guess its fine . I'll wait until I see an increase then do it.

That sound ok?

 

[kris-b-]

It will take some time before nitrites appear in your tank, what are your results for ammonia? You should still be performing daily water changes.

 

[annka5]

Yep, I agree with Kris, you do need to see the ammonia levels as this is the first stage in the cycle. The low nitrites can just mean that the ammonia isn't yet being broken down by bacteria.
If you're water is acidic, ammonia is not as toxic, but nitrite is. And vice-versa with alkaline water. That might help in determining critical stage as far as the fish are concerned.

 

[Alaine]

The pH is 6.8. Is this a good way of assessing ammonia? I have a 5 in 1 dip stick test that measures pH, H, GH, nitrite and nitrate.

 

[rdd1952]

You will need a test that specifically tests ammonia. It isn't something you can calculate for the other tests. Ammonia is the first phase of the nitrogen cycle. Some ammount of ammonia will be present from the first day you have fish. It will continue to rise until there are enough bacteria present to handle it. During a cycle with fish, that could be anywhere from 7 to 21 days depending on how many fish you have. If you are on day 3 and haven't done any water changes, your ammonia is probably over 1 ppm by now.

 

[Alaine]

I did a water change yesterday and am doing another one today, so since I've had the fish there has only been one day that I haven't changed the water.

thanks for the advice, you guys are great!

 

[rdd1952]

It's good that you are doing the water changes but I would still cuggest getting an ammonia test kit. Otherwise, you won't really know if you are doing large enough water changes until it's too late and some of your fish are dead. Also, when the strips are gone, get some liquid test kits (a master kit is the best).

 

[Alaine]

Will do and thanks again. It's great that this forum is here, without it I would be a bit lost!

 

[rdd1952]

I definitely was lost back in January before I found this place.