Ammonia Levels??

[Squealor]

I'm definitely a newbie to this whole thing, but I've read Aquariums for dummies and I'm definitely doing my homework online, too. We set up my new 46 gallon tank and let it run on it's own for a few days. Then we added three tetras to begin the cycling process. On day two, we tested the levels and the ammonia level was definitely going up. Now, everything I read online seems to be different. Do I change the water when the levels go up or do I let it be? Some sites say to do a partial water change, some say to let the cycle run and only change water if my fish are distressed. The fish seem fine, so far... (knock on wood!)
Thanks!

 

[Ripples]

Now there are far more knowledgable people on here than I am, but from everything I've read, you should change up to 50% of your water the whole time you have high levels of ammonia or nitrite - both these chemicals are harmful to fish.
The bacteria that will grow over time, will be on your filter material and in any gravel/substrate you have - so changing water will just dilute the harmful stuff while the bacteria grow.

Remember to treat your replacement water with an any chlorine mix (or Chloramine if it's in your water) otherwise all the bacteria that are growing will be history. Just remember - at the point when the fish begin to look distressed you could have already caused permanent damage to gills etc.

R

 

[Kasakato]

Do a water change to keep the ammoina levels below 0.5ppm

 

[Squealor]

Great, thank you!!!