Water changes while cycling with fish?

[brogham]

Please refrain from the lecturing me in my mistake of cycling with fish.

My question is.... if you are cycling with fish, do partial water changes hinder the developement of the beneficial bacteria? I had a fish "expert" tell me that doing water changes to a tank that is cycling can cause the cycle to repeatedly restart, and thus the tank could take extremely long to cycle, or never cycle at all.

My problem is I don't want the fish I currently have in the tank to die, but at the same time I don't want to disturb the cycling.

Your help is appreciated!

 

[heresmike]

It might prolong it a bit, but it will eventually cycle. You would be wise to do water changes to keep the levels below toxic for the sake of the fish.

What type of fish do you have?

 

[brogham]

Their in my signature, but 2 fantail goldfish, 6 black neon tetras, and 5 neon tetras.

 

[parker313]

Did you know that goldfish are coldwater while the tetras are tropical?......

 

[brogham]

Yea, the water temp is maintained at aroun 72 degrees.

 

[heresmike]

Not lecturing here.... but neons are pretty sensitive to their water conditions. Not the best for cycling. You definitely need to do water changes to keep the ammo and nitrite levels low.

 

[brogham]

I've read that, but unfortunately I made the mistake of adding the neons, and really all the fish, before I had educated myself. Shame on me! heh. They seem to be thriving now, schooling, and looking healthy.