End Of Cycle But Do I Need To Water Change?

[Ragtagcurtis]

So I am likely to be getting fish tomorrow having cycled my tank. I haven't done a full qualifying week (around 5 days) but I don't have another chance to get fish for atleast another 3 weeks so I'm biting the bullet.

Anyway. I have been adding 4ppm ammonia once a day and been getting double zeros. Due to decorating the flat the friday just gone I had to do a 95% water change and move the tank. I have since refilled the tank and am still getting double zeros every 12 hours. I have tested my Nitrates again today and they are now only reading between 5 - 10 ppm. I won't be adding anymore ammonia as I will be getting the fish around midday tomorrow and the last dose was at 10PM last night.

So my question is, Should I still do a water change tonight before getting the fish tomorrow?

 

[Noahs ark6]

you should wait that 3 weeks, 5 days is not long enough

 

[Gelt]

Rga is already cycled, hes not 5 days into it!

and after a 5 day qualification, indeed not everyone does a qualification , his log looks fine to me.

 

[Ragtagcurtis]

Thanks Gelt.

Maybe I didn't explain clearly to those who haven't seen my log but I am indeed cycled already.

Also it seems a water change is needed. I have just tested again and the nitrates are higher than I thought. Hmmmm these things happen when I leave my girlfriend to do the first test

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Thanks Gelt.

Maybe I didn't explain clearly to those who haven't seen my log but I am indeed cycled already.

Also it seems a water change is needed. I have just tested again and the nitrates are higher than I thought. Hmmmm these things happen when I leave my girlfriend to do the first test

I would recommend keeping a very close eye on the parameters after getting the fish though, just to ensure against any mini-cycle or possible spike in ammonia/nitrite...

 

[Aqua Tom]

You shoudnt "need" to do a waterchange but it will be the last chance you get to practice before the fish go in so I personaly would do one.

 

[OldMan47]

Do a huge 90% plus water change before adding any fish. A fishless cycle contains the results of processing all of the ammonia you have added. At 3.6 ppm of nitrates for every 1 ppm of ammonia you have added over time, your tank will have incredibly high nitrate levels before that water change. If you can only do a 5 day qualifying "week" that is probably close enough. We have chosen a nominal week because it is a nice round number and seems to almost always be enough to detect a failed cycle. There is nothing magic about a week as such.

 

[Ragtagcurtis]

Thanks for the advice guys. I am happy to say I carried out a huge water change which must have been around 99%. Literally couldn't remove another drop from the tank. Did one big test of all my tank parameters and the water was fine so I went and collected my fish. They are very young salousi fry ( 1-2cm). I'm still going to test the water every day to ensure everything stays in line. I have had 18 salousi fry as at this point they are to young to sex. As they get older and can be sexed I will let half the group go to have the optimum adult amount and correct ratios.

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Photos please