Water changes when cycling?

[Melaniser]

Hello, I've just set up my new tank on Saturday (2 days ago). The local fish shop advised a 20% water change every two days whilst it's cycling, however the guide on here doesn't say to do that, I'm wondering if I misunderstood the fish shop instructions. I don't have any water test kits yet - the fish shop said to take a sample into them in two weeks and they'd test it for me. They estimated 4-6 weeks for it to fully cycle which does seem consistent with what I've read here.

 

[Essjay]

It depends oh how you are cycling.

Fishless cycling using ammonia from a bottle does not need any water changes, except in certain circumstances (eg very low KH and the pH has crashed)

Silent/plant cycling does not need any water changes

Fish-in cycling, where fish are put in an uncycled tank, does need water changes; lots of them. The water should be tested every day and a water change done whenever ammonia and/or nitrite read above zero.
There is no set amount or timescale. When to do water chnages is determined by the readings. The amount to change depends on how high the readings are. The amount needs to be enough to get the ammonia or nitrite level down to zero.

 

[Melaniser]

Thank you. It will be a fishless cycle. I used Tetra FilterActive Bacteria and Jewel BioBoost Filter Accelerator tabs - that's all the fish shop said I'd need.

 

[Essjay]

Never believe anything a shop tells you - that's the first rule of fish keeping.

The products are bacterial boosters but they do not cycle a tank instantly. The fact they said to do water changes every 2 days means they know that the products don't instantly make the tank safe for fish but not that they actually know what cycling involves.
The best way to use these products is to speed up a fishless cycle following this method

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...

www.fishforums.net

By adding ammonia you will know for sure whether or not they've worked. If they have, adding ammonia will show that they have. If they haven't worked, adding ammonia tells you this so you know not to get fish yet.

Look on Amazon or Ebay for ammonia. It must be pure ammonia (or ammonium hydroxide) - no perfume or detergent. Or Dr Tim's ammonium chloride.

 

[fatheadminnow]

" FilterActive Bacteria and Jewel BioBoost Filter Accelerator tabs" are not going to do anything and it's just a money grab for you fish store.

Get a test kit (API Freshwater Master Test Kit)
Get some ammonia (ACE Ammonia or equivalent)

Start with some new water in your tank and follow the pinned thread on how to do a fishless cycle.

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...

www.fishforums.net

 

[Slaphppy7]

Never believe anything a shop tells you - that's the first rule of fish keeping.

The products are bacterial boosters but they do not cycle a tank instantly. The fact they said to do water changes every 2 days means they know that the products don't instantly make the tank safe for fish but not that they actually know what cycling involves.
The best way to use these products is to speed up a fishless cycle following this method

Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!

Cycling Your First Fresh Water Tank What is Cycling and Why is it Important? Fish waste, and especially fish breathing, plus uneaten food and other organic matter breaking down in a tank all produce Ammonia. This can quickly become toxic to fish if it is allowed to build up to any measurable...

www.fishforums.net

By adding ammonia you will know for sure whether or not they've worked. If they have, adding ammonia will show that they have. If they haven't worked, adding ammonia tells you this so you know not to get fish yet.

Look on Amazon or Ebay for ammonia. It must be pure ammonia (or ammonium hydroxide) - no perfume or detergent. Or Dr Tim's ammonium chloride.

"Never believe anything a shop tells you - that's the first rule of fish keeping."

AMEN to that!

 

[Essjay]

For ammonia in the UK, look on Amazon or Ebay. I found some in my local independent diy shop (Jeyes KleenOff Household Ammonia). It must contain only ammonia or ammonium hydroxide and water, no perfume or detergents.
Looking on those websites just now, the only ammonia I can see is some that don't say if it's pure, and some high strength ammonia usually sold a lab grade.
The alternative is Dr Tim's ammonium chloride which is made for fishless cycling.