Do I need to change water while cycling the tank?

**hoonming** · 12th Aug 2004, 21:48

Have bought a new 2' tank and it's under cycling now.

Do I need to change water weekly or top up the evaporated water will do?

Can anybody care to enlighten me?

Many thanks!

**prec** · 12th Aug 2004, 21:56

change the water after 2weeks at ard 30-40%. do top up the water but most importantly, let the filter go at max so that the bacterias will not starve.

**hoonming** · 13th Aug 2004, 08:31

[quote:ffe67943c3="prec"]change the water after 2weeks at ard 30-40%. do top up the water but most importantly, let the filter go at max so that the bacterias will not starve.[/quote:ffe67943c3]

What do you mean by "let the filter go at max "?

Can the flow rate be adjusted?

**PeterGwee** · 13th Aug 2004, 09:05

Planted tanks do not go through the same cycling stage of a normal fish only tank if you do it properly. They are usually "silent" cycle if you pack the tank with loads of plants and add mulm (dirt from established tanks) both to the filter and the bottom of the substrate. The main thing is to keep up with the plants needs and they will remove all the ammonia readily and you will not feel the nitrogen cycle at all. If you do go through it, you are properly not doing something right. (skimpy planting, did not add enough mulm or any at all, fail to provide enough nutrients for the plants and etc.)

As for the water changing issue, more is better during the initial stages just to clean up the tank and whip it into shape. Maybe 50% water changes once a twice per week is fine depending on the bio-load. More critters, more water changes. Main issue is still in keeping the plants happy and there will not a "silent" nitrogen cycle.

Regards
Peter Gwee