Need advice on cycle

[undercontrolj]

It has been a long time since i first set up a tank to cycle so I am a little forgetful. Should i run the protein skimmer and other chemical filters during the cycle?

 

[zoodood]

nope...you want to keep the bad stuff (i.e. N03, NO2, NH4, etc) in there to feed the bacteria(i.e. nitrobacter, nitrosommonas).

 

[undercontrolj]

cool so i gues 3-4 weeks i should be able to start running the skimmer and chemical filters. Thanks for the advice.

 

[zoodood]

Your guess sounds accurate. I've been told it takes 21 days for the nitrifying bacteria to grow. Just be sure to keep the water column well aerated.