Fishless Cycle question(s)

[thedeanorama]

I am understanding the basics, keep the ammonia trickling to feed the bacteria that will eventually kill off my nitrites.

I also understand that water changing will not accelerate my results as the bacteria grows on objects (media, driftwood, substrate).

Here is where the question comes in - In the sticky its mentioned that "No water changes are necessary but patience is. Leave your tank alone and let that bacteria grow!"

Does this mean that water changes are off limits, upsetting the balance OR since bacteria is not in the water itself can I do a 25% water change providing I don't vacuum substrate ect and inject my ammonia post change rather than pre change?

[Jeddi]

Doing a water change is fine. Is it because of that algae that you want to do it?

[thedeanorama]

Basically, yes. I know I can't do anything about what its grown on, but I can clear it out of the water itself, or at least a bit of it.

[Jeddi]

I can't say for sure but I don't think a water change will hurt anything, if you keep the ammonia levels back up after changing the water it'll stay the same, and if not it'll just lessen the bio-load your filter can take, which doesn't matter much since most of the time when fishless cycling, one uses much more ammonia than will be produced by the fish that will be in the tank

[f3honda4me]

You can totally change your water during the fishless cycle. Just don't vacuum up anything. I did a 90% water change right before my cycle finished so I could get nitrite and nitrate to readable levels since both were off the charts.

[thedeanorama]

I'll definitely try the bigger water swap since a 25% didn't get me on the scale at all. But at least it cleared up my water a bit.