end of cycling process question

[oceans0516]

its been 3 weeks since i started cycling this tank, which i've seeded with lots of plants, some gravel and a sponge filter i've had in the established tank. and the test results are showing 0 ammonia, 5 nitrate, and .25 nitrite. I'm still not good at determining these numbers other than knowing cycling will be done when nitrite reaches 0. It looks like its getting there but i'm questioning....Is it the time where i keep water changing(been doing about every other day 25%) or just sit back, don't feed and let the bacteria settle till its finished cycling??

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

Are you cycling with or without fish? If there are no fish, you don't do water changes. If there are fish in the tank, you need to do water changes to get nitrites to un-readable levels.

PS. Live plants do not "seed" a cycling tank, and if anything they interfere with the cycling process, because they take up the ammonia that you're trying to build on your filter. It looks like everything is moving along, but in future know that plants can actually complicate and slow down a cycle. Sometimes (if there are enough plants in the tank) the tank doesn't cycle at all.

Another reason plants are not recommended in a cycling tank is that 10-12 hours of aquarium lights + high ammonia/nitrite levels in the tank = algae.
If you choose not to do water changes, keep an eye out for this.