ok it's day three since i set my new tank up. i used stress zyme and am cycling the tank[with my oscar and pleco in it] to get the new filters established. on day 7 when i add more stress zyme do i perform a water change or will this depend on my ammonia levels? i have been checking the water every morning since set up, ph is 7.6,ammonia is 0ppm, nitrite is 0ppm,nitrate is somewhere between 0 and 0.25,also was still having water clarity issues so i checked the filter cartridges and they were filthy from dirt cycling through them so i replaced them, as i was told it would be fine, since my bacteria colony will establish itself on the bio-wheel filter. just wanted to know if i am doing everything in my fishs' best interests?

I'm not really sure whether these products like stress zymne actually do anything. People are taken in by them and actually think that they create a biological filter, this is totally untrue. They help maintain your aquarium while you're biological filter is being created.

Okay, when you ammonia starts rising above .25, that is the time to start doing water changes, if it doesn't rise above this then a water change is not necessary, you've got to remember that you need a food source for your bacteria to grow, this is ammonia, if you haven't got any ammonia present, you can't grow the bacteria colony

IMO,, you should put the Oscar in an established tank untill yours has cycled (6-8 weeks).. If you want to cycle with fish there are better fish that can take a beating better.. Maybe some Tiger Barbs or some moleys. The Oscar is going to suffer, and if it does not kill him it may effect him the rest of his life.
Just my thoughts..

sorry but its gotta be this way the established tank he was given to me in was only a ten gallon,but if it matters i am running the old 10 gallon filter on the new tank as well as the new filter.i am keeping a close eye on the tank and water though.

well, test your water daily, and when tha ammonia gets to .25 do a 33-50% water change. There are some products that claim to reduce Ammonia and Nitrite. I guess you can put them to the test.. Good luck.

I used the stress zyme as well while I was cycling my 90 gallon and have to agree with the boss on this one...really doesn't do anything and IMO is a waste of money...I guess if you have it, use it as it doesn't hurt anything but just watch your water quality and keep up on the waterchanges. I didn't notice any difference after adding the stress zyme though...still went through the same "cycle" and it didn't make it quick and easy like the bottle says.

thanks i will keep a close eye on things. the way i understand it is ammonia needs to be present to create nitrite and start the bacteria colony, wouldnt water changes when the ammonia levels come up hurt the bacteria colony i am trying to establish? or is the water change necessary so that i can keep ammonia levels from rising too high? and if the ammonia levels don't reach too high a level during the cycling process should i do a water change anyway?