"David" wrote in message
oups.com...

Mellie101 wrote:
Hi, new to the group, so Hello.

I am 4 weeks into cycling my 55g. I have minimal readings for ammonia
and nitrites and 20ppm for Nitrates so hoping that I nearing the end
of
this process. I have 3 fish in there who are thriving and having the
time of their lives. I have been changing the water twice a week,
doing smallish changes, around 10%. I have been told to take from the
top of the tank so as not to disturb all the helpful bacteria's
forming
in the gravel.


I have just started cycling my tank less than a week ago. How often do
I need to do water changes and % percentage?

Thanks


Depends. For a fishless cycle, no water changes are done until the cycle
is complete, and then to just bring the NO3 levels down.

If there are fish in there, then you do the amount of water changes
necessary to keep the water toxicity from harming/killing the fish. This
amount will vary according to the fish-load, how much you are feeding,
the water temperature and where you are in the cycle.

The ammonia spike is deceiving, as it starts up with a real bang,
sometimes catching you unawares, and then doing twice-daily 50% changes.
By the time the nitrite spike starts, you're more watchful and ready, but
this one lasts longer than the ammonia. You can't do too much water
changing. It will cycle anyways as only trace amounts are needed
(actually the cycling can be slowed if the levels are too high).

I would be looking for bacteria seed, Biospira is the best, or aged
filter media.
--
www.NetMax.tk