How do you do water changes in CRS tanks?

[Ebichua]

Hello folks, I'm new to this forums, though I've been reading a ton of stuff in the inverts section. Mainly on Crystals and Diamonds.

I understand that Crystals and Diamonds are a very fragile species. I am currently cycling a 40gallon breeder tank right now for my incoming Crystals and Diamonds. I am using ADA Amazonia II right now and I'm still waiting for it to finish cycling (fishless). I changed 90% of the water before but it was all through the use of a bucket. It was painfully back breaking.

I need help with water changes :-(
How do you (CRS keepers) do water changes?
Does anyone use a Python? I was thinking of getting a Python but then that would mean, when I refill my tank, it gets straight tap water first, before I can even add any Dechlor. Is that even safe? I have read that it's okay for fish but Crystals are much more fragile, so I don't know if it's okay or not.


Also, this is kinda off the topic but I don't really want to make another thread...
Another question, I am using Amazonia II and have been cycling it for a week so far. I did one water change, after that, I left it alone. I seeded this tank with an established filter's media and swished around some gravel from an established tank. I also dumped in a packet of bio-spira (30gallon packet) My water parameters now is this:
Ammonia: .75ppm (approx.)
Nitrite: 2ppm
Nitrate: 10ppm

My nitrate is kinda low because this is a planted tank. I have a fast growing stem plant in there (Myrophyllum Matogrossense) so it's being kept somewhat low. My nitrite hasn't really changed for about 3 or 4 days now. Same with Ammonia. It has been around .75-1 for about 3-4 days as well. Is this normal? I have not been dosing this tank with pure ammonia. Should I even? I didn't think it was needed because amazonia II already leaks it.
I was wondering, how long does it take to cycle a seeded tank that is using Amazonia II? Anyone have experience in this soil?

Thanks in advance :-)

[Quixotic]

You mentioned it is a planted tank. Any CO2 supplement injections? How heavily planted is the tank?

I think ADA Amazonia II will leech ammonia into the water column, no different from ADA Amazonia. This will kick start the nitrogen cycle, so you don't need to dose ammonia. The nitrogen cycle generally takes anything from 3 to 6 weeks to complete.

However, in a planted tank, there are exceptions to the nitrogen cycle. Plants will consume ammonia/nitrate and technically, cycling period can be shortened. But the plants need to be growing well in the first place, needing the proper parameters (lighting, photoperiod, CO2) to be photosynthesising in order to remove ammonia/nitrate.

The other thing to note is that it is not known how much ammonia is being leeched into the water column. Plus it has only been a week. So as a general guideline, cycle as long as possible (up to 6 weeks) and tests the parameters before introducing the shrimps. In a cycled tank, ammonia/nitrite reading should be 0 (or very very close to it).

[Ebichua]

Plants are growing nicely with my DIY CO2. I'm getting new shoots of stems almost every day from my Myrophyllum.
I also have HC and HM, they're slowly taking root and propagating. I see little baby HC (or maybe it's HM) plantlets on my stones too.

But in any case, 3-6 weeks? :-( Even if it has already been seeded?

[Quixotic]

Preferably, or whenever you choose to test and ammonia/nitrite reading is 0.