im starting my cycle

Dapple · Feb 4, 2012

80 lbs of arag 80 lbs of live sand 80 lbs of LR + fuge rubble . Should I run my skimmer during the first days? I was planning on leaving it off for a week or 2.. some LR is full of critters some is covered in diat some coralineii burnt. The water goes in a day break. :angel:

k2parkstar · Feb 4, 2012

I didn't run a skimmer the whole month of my cycle. I didn't really see the need in it. Some others may know better than me.

revhtree · Feb 4, 2012

No skimmer!

Dapple · Feb 4, 2012

Rocks are going in.

Dapple · Feb 4, 2012

Rocks are in water and live sand in. Now we wait. Should I put refugium macroalgie in now?

k2parkstar · Feb 5, 2012

Dapple said:
Rocks are in water and live sand in. Now we wait. Should I put refugium macroalgie in now?

Wait on the macro, just let the cycle happen

Loki · Feb 5, 2012

I was told to run a skimmer during my cycle. It took about 6 weeks. Maybe that's why. I had my lights off and skimmer on.

Engloid · Feb 5, 2012

I would leave the skimmer off too. I always put a fish or two in during cycling. I figure that if there's not any waste for the bacteria to feed upon, their colony won't grow as quickly. The live rock will produce some waste, but probably not near what a fish or two will. I do watch the ammonia closely though, so I can change water if it gets bad. Make sure you have oxygen in the water, or the "live" rock won't live for very long.

jtgordon20 · Feb 5, 2012

I wouldn't use a fish during the cycle. although they might survive it is cruel with them being in there with measurable levels of ammonia and nitrite. Put some fish food in there to make up for fish poo or you can use a dead shrimp.
To help you can use that Special Blend bacteria additive.

As for the Skimmer. I don't think it is a catastrophe if you run it or not.
Good luck and have patience

boxer · Feb 5, 2012

revhtree said:
No skimmer!

+1 add rock,sand,water and wait. Its just that simple

EvilMel · Feb 6, 2012

Agreed. I wouldn't put a fish in there personally. I don't like making them suffer through the ammonia and nitrite but people used to do that all the time, so some people still prefer it.

Spencer, these days there's enough decaying stuff on the rocks (if you get good live rocks) that you really don't need fish in there for cycling. I'm honestly not sure if it would speed things up in the first place. If you want to do the same thing only not harm fish, dump a little food in there. I would just let it sit and be patient but if you want to pretend you've got fish...just dump some food in there.

Keep in mind though...nothing good in a reef tank happens fast. It's all about patience.