Originally Posted by
AquaticNerd
You don't do water changes during a fishless cycle, which is why testing for nitrates is only important when you start seeing nitrites drop. Only after you have verified that the fishless cycle has completed do you need to do a water change. Personally, I would hold off on doing a water change until you know the fish are about to arrive.
When I did my fishless cycle, I waited until the morning of the day the fish were arriving. Since my water is aged and heated, it was all prepared to go to. Changed nearly 100% of the water and it was ready for fish.