Cycling a tank questions.

[Sacohen]

I'm not new to saltwater or reefs, but I haven't cycled a tank in a while.

This is not really about how to cycle a tank, more about what to have running and what not.

I'm going to ghost feed, with not lighting (the lights will still be on my old tank until the cycle is done)

My question is should I be running my protein skimmer during the cycle or not?

Also should I be running my denitrification chamber during the cycle?

My thought is yes to the skimmer and no the denitrification chamber.

Do you agree or not and why?

 

[melypr1985]

I like to use the cycle to run all my equipment and determine if it's functioning properly, needs adjustments or tuning ect. Maybe I need to make a big adjustment in the sump so I can get the skimmer out for repairs/cleaning. It's best to find these things out as early as possible. You dont NEED these things running during the cycle.... I just use it as my "test time".

 

[bevo5]

Just to add to that great advice - there's not really a problem running skimmer during the cycle. I think it's just personal preference.

But why ghost feed? Just drop a shrimp in there. Or even better - dose ammonia up to 3ppm and walk away.

 

[Sacohen]

Ghost feed so you don't stress out any wildlife.
I have heard about dosing ammonia, but I need to read up on it more.

Are you talking about putting a live shrimp, like a cleaner shrimp or Coral Banded. Won't the cycle stress them or even kill them.

Like I said it's been awhile since I cycled a tank.

When I first started out it was suggested to use a hardy fish like a damsel because they can tolerate the cycle, but not suggeted anymore because it is not fair to the fish.

The last tank I did, about 3 years ago, I ghost feed because I didn't want to stress any fish any I really didn't want a damsel in the tank when I was done.

 

[brandon429]

http://reef2reef.com/threads/new-ta...d-cocktail-shrimp-live-rock-no-shrimp.214618/

a very unique cycling thread. agreed on equipment, run it or not bacteria are fine, even if it was a UV sterilizer during cycle its fine (affects pelagic bacteria {floating} not mentioned in the link because we are cycling benthics {on the substrates})

try to locate a non api cycling thread w skimmer stalled it

 

[tankstudy]

My question is should I be running my protein skimmer during the cycle or not?

Although, the main bacteria we are attempting to grow, generally does not grow in the water column, it is highly possible some do end up in the water column from time to time. Your skimmer will most likely pick them up and remove them. I would prefer letting them get blown around in the water column and landing on a surface area somewhere else to continue multiplying. Unless your using a starter culture of bacteria, every last bacteria will decrease the amount of time spent cycling, even the few that are getting skimmed will make a difference.

If your ghost feeding, you don't want to skim. You want to leave what your tossing in to produce the primary food source for your bacteria. If you toss in food and it gets skimmed, your reducing the amount of food readily available for your bacteria, which will limit their growth rates.

Also should I be running my denitrification chamber during the cycle?

I would wait till you see a substantial amount of nitrate levels first to confirm that your bacteria population can process ammonia -> nitrite -> nitrate.

 

[bevo5]

Drop a fresh shrimp in there and in 24hrs you'll know it's working by the horrible smell. THen you can remove it and you'll be up around 1-2ppm on ammonia I bet.

The other way is to simply put a LITTLE BIT of pure, non-scented ammonia into the tank. It's like $2 at hardware stores. Just a tiny bit...then wait 20min and test. Then a tiny bit more..until you're up at 3ppm or so. Then, you just need to start testing every other day or so. ONce you see the ammonia start to drop you put some more in and get back up to 3ppm. Then you can start testing for nitrites. Same thing over and over again until you can turn over 3ppm of ammonia and nitrites within 24 hours. Then a MASSIVE water change to remove nitrates and you're in business.

I prefer the ammonia method because I like building up a larger base of bacteria so your bio load capacity is higher right off the bat. If you can process 3ppm of ammonia than your first couple of fish wont have any issues at all..

Just my opinion.

 

[tankstudy]

I prefer the ammonia method because I like building up a larger base of bacteria so your bio load capacity is higher right off the bat.

I do the exact same thing

 

[PatW]

I would advise using ammonium chloride. You can get it from Dr. Tim's or possibly at your LFS.

I like it because it is easy to add a controllable amount. And one little bottle goes a long ways.

 

[jetmaker]

I used pure ammonia to cycle just shake it if it doesn't foam it's pure.