Dumping skimmer waste in new tank to cycle

[Joker79]

I've thought about trying to cycle my new tank using my skimmer waste.
Anyone know if this will be sufficient enough to do it?
Good idea or bad idea?

 

[Spit.fire]

bad idea, i tried it, took forever to cycle
best thing to use is a product like mb7 or zeobak

 

[Joker79]

How long do those products take to cycle?

 

[ReefMadScientist]

 

[Salty1962]

I used MB7 and my tank cycled in 2~3 weeks, Cad Lights 70G Artisan II,. Skimmer is for pulling proteins, etc. out of water. There may be some bacteria but I don't believe enough to chance it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are you cycling live rock or dead rock?

There are lots of bacteria in skimmate, but most are probably not those that drive the nitrogen cycle.

 

[Joker79]

It would be dry rock. I have some marine pure media spheres from my other tank that I had thought about assisting with the cycle but I'm not sure there would be enough bacteria to initiate a good cycle?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That would be quite helpful to supply bacteria, but you still want organic matter to break down and produce ammonia, such as a shrimp, or possibly skimmate, if you want to go that route.

 

[Joker79]

Thanks Randy! Think I'll do a combination of the 3. ;-)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok, let us know how it works out.

 

[Joker79]

Absolutely!