New tank cycle, yellow gunk in skimmer?

[daftwazzock]

I've been running the red sea reef mature cycle program and have had ok results so far (I think, my test kits are really bad). Noticed this yellow gunk building up in my skimmer, is this bacteria? There are next to no organics in the system, lights are off, water is really clear and made from RODI, and the sand was washed thoroughly.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Hi, I would not run skimmer or lights during cycle. Just let the circulation pump and return pump work on it and check your ammonia and nitrites.

 

[daftwazzock]

Hi, I would not run skimmer or lights during cycle. Just let the circulation pump and return pump work on it and check your ammonia and nitrites.

I said the lights were off in my post

BRS recommends running the skimmer during the cycle and I'm following their methods, sorry.



Anyways I'm pretty sure that the gunk in the skimmer is just bacteria build up. There's literally nothing else it could be.

 

[Sailingeric]

Are you feeding your tank so the bacteria have something to eat and stay alive? If you are feeding food or shrimp bits, it might be that breaking down.

 

[daftwazzock]

Are you feeding your tank so the bacteria have something to eat and stay alive? If you are feeding food or shrimp bits, it might be that breaking down.

red sea's "bacto start" nitrate/phosphate supplement and NO3 PO4-X supplement

It's not really a big deal but I'm just on guard for any unpleasant surprises for when I add my cleanup crew/chaeto reactor