Should I Change Water During Cycling?

While not essential, we recommend water changes during cycling, although opinions differ. Since bacteria live on surfaces, removing water does not disrupt their development. Water changes can help control the amount of ammonia in the first stage of the aquarium's life.

How often should you do water changes when cycling a tank?

There are different philosophies on how much and how often to change water, but 10% to 25% every 1 to 2 weeks is a good rule of thumb. Small frequent water changes are best. Don't vacuum the gravel yet, as you may disrupt the good bacteria that are just starting to colonize your aquarium.

Should you clean tank while cycling?

Surprisingly, nope! Because your good bacteria live on the biological media, it needs to stay there. Sometimes you need to clean your filter to stop the 'gunk' from building up - when you do this, it's best to only clean the sponge/foam or 25% of the 'mechanical' media.