Cycling Procedure...

M

Moosetache

New member
Couple quick questions....

1. Is it best to leave the lights off for the most part during the cycle?

2. Should my Skimmer stay off for a while during the cycle as well?

3. Should I be adding any food etc to help the process get started?

thanks for your input all...
 
Sorry....Yes, reef tank...currently have 50 lbs of LR in it with covered in Coraline.....got it from an established tank. Looking to add another 40-50 lbs in the next couple days as well.
 
1-leave the lights on a regular cycle 8-12 hrs/day
2-leave the skimmer off until tank is cycled
3-I feed the tank w/ food to aid in the cycling. I also have some chromis, snails, crabs in the tank initially as well

Using good live rock always helps to decrease cycling time.
Hope this helps
 
Helps a great deal....thank you, I have been out of the scene for a few years and need some reminders. Only other thing I am wondering is, when I add any additional rock, will I be starting the entire cycle over again?

Thanks for the help chin...
 
Depends on the rock. If its not fully cured (smells like sewage) you probably want to let it cure in a bucket/garbage can for a few weeks w/ an air stone. This will ensure you will not see an ammonia spike in the tank. If the rock is good and/or isnt that bad, put the rock in the tank and turn on the skimmer, and even run some carbon just to play it safe.
 
Will do....I just put the first 50 lbs in today, and plan on adding the rest within the next few days so hopefully that will help creat just one spike. I am going to add 2, Koralia 4's to this 65, as well as have a 400 gph (or so) return pump....think that is enough for any kind of corals? can "aim" the pumps more at the sps's if need be, which will also save the softies from getting cremed.....

thanks for all your thoughts!!!
 
Skimmer takes the organics out of the water, the process needed for cycling, You shouldnyt use skimmer until it's fully cycled.
 
Ditto. Having the skimmer on will lengthen the cycle time. The only time I run a skimmer on a new tank is when the live rock is kind of shady.
 
What are you people talking about???

You should DEFINITLEY run a skimmer when you cycle your tank. There is undoubtedly stuff on and within the live rock that is dying. The decay on your rock is what will jump start your cycle, thus you do not need to feed your tank.

If you want to keep any of the life and coraline algae on your live rock you will run your skimmer and possibly even carbon.

When your tank is done cycling you will have bacteria in your tank to support life. You just need to add it slowly. By keeping the water as clean as possible during your initial cycle you will reduce the swings in the second and possibly 3rd mini cycles.

Here are a few articles:
http://www.livestockusa.org/CURING.html
http://www.marinedepotlive.com/live-rock-sand.html
http://www.drmaccorals.com/curingrock.aspx
 
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