Cycling a tank with no skimmer

[ReeferBill]

So I’m cycling my brand new tank, set up yesterday. Have the skimmer running and it’s pulling lots out. But I’ve read from some people here to cycle without a skimmer. Why would you chose to do that? Thanks for any insight

 

[brandon429]

it does not matter

no cycle has ever been stopped, slowed or anything'd by a skimmer being on or off. independent issues, and they likely appreciate the extra oxygenation that skimming provides. I vote skimmers help cycling, not harm it via export. you aren't able to pass all your reef water through a skimmer before bacteria will adhere to surfaces, and skimming isn't 100% bacteria removal even for water that does pass through.

 

[ReeferBill]

Thank you for the info. Kind of how I felt but kept reading how everyone was not running them.

 

[KQuillan]

I was just going to post about this also. I started my cycle running my skimmer for a few days then turned it off. It has been a couple of weeks now and my ammonia is down, but my nitrates are high. I turned the skimmer back on. Plus, it will help prime the skimmer as it is also new.

 

[ReeferBill]

I ran my skimmer and never stopped. Tank cycled within a week. Nitrates are zero and always have been. Best system I’ve ever had.

 

[KQuillan]

I ran my skimmer and never stopped. Tank cycled within a week. Nitrates are zero and always have been. Best system I’ve ever had.

Wow. Looks fantastic.

 

[mnl119]

So I’m cycling my brand new tank, set up yesterday. Have the skimmer running and it’s pulling lots out. But I’ve read from some people here to cycle without a skimmer. Why would you chose to do that? Thanks for any insight

Your skimmer is probably pulling out stuff not completely dissolved from the salt mix. It'll go on like that for a few days.

 

[ReeferBill]

Yeah it pulled stuff from the cycling rock too. I advocate to run it during cycle.

 

[brandon429]

just the torch alone above would command about $250 here in town, such a nice setup!

 

[ReeferBill]

The best part about it is I’m not a great reefer. Weekly water changes and that’s about it. I don’t get deep into chemicals or levels or auto systems. I’ve always been a cheap setup guy. Buy used and just hope for the best. Whole system cost me under $2k. All used stuff. That torch was $50 at my lfs.

 

[brandon429]

hey me too, I've only owned a swingarm hydrometer and a thermometer taped to the end of a speaker wire so I can submerge it down into a drinking water bottle to gauge change water temps lol. as bare bones as possible, I only know temp and salinity in my reef

 

[I never finish anythi]

just the torch alone above would command about $250 here in town, such a nice setup!

Yikes that's expensive.

just the torch alone above would command about $250 here in town, such a nice setup!

Yikes expensive. £45 where I come from . Shocking how much if a difference there is .