Cycling a new tank with a roller mat

[djray77]

I have a quick question for you guys, with using bacteria in a bottle they all say to remove filter socks for at least 48hours (makes sense) . Well, what if you cant remove the socks and you have a filter roller plumbed in? Do you just lose a lot of the bacteria and need to double the dose maybe?

 

[Acro Junky]

Can you not take the fleece roll out?

 

[djray77]

I guess you could but that would be a pain in the rear. You would have to thread it back through while in the sump, I wouldn't want to do that, and to take the clarisea out I have to remove my drain line and it's hard plumbed. I didnt have enough room for a union which really sucks.

 

[djray77]

Heres a pic, you can see no room for unions :(

 

[Acro Junky]

I guess you could but that would be a pain in the rear. You would have to thread it back through while in the sump, I wouldn't want to do that, and to take the clarisea out I have to remove my drain line and it's hard plumbed. I didnt have enough room for a union which really sucks.

Well thats crappy for when you have to change out the roll for maintenance ...

 

[djray77]

It is, I think that is why I have seen so many using a vinyl tube with barb fittings instead of hard plumbed. I made sure not to glue it into the roller end so at least I can remove the drain line for maintenance but I'm hoping that's not too often.
I'm sure the bacteria will work but I cant do the "remove filter sock" step.

 

[WVNed]

I dont think the bacteria will be affected by your filter in a significant way.

 

[Acro Junky]

It is, I think that is why I have seen so many using a vinyl tube with barb fittings instead of hard plumbed.
I'm sure the bacteria will work but I cant do the "remove filter sock" step.

If anything, turn off the roller and let the water overflow from roller mat so it isnt catching any bacteria and filtering it out. Just let water overflow, shouldnt make to much of a mess

 

[djray77]

If anything, turn off the roller and let the water overflow from roller mat so it isnt catching any bacteria and filtering it out. Just let water overflow, shouldnt make to much of a mess

This is the only way I had thought of also, there is a little valve you can open at the bottom to let some water out so I have done that.

 

[Acro Junky]

This is the only way I had thought of also, there is a little valve you can open at the bottom to let some water out so I have done that.

Great minds think alike!

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Heres a pic, you can see no room for unions :(

Using 2 street 90s would free up some space.

 

[djray77]

Unfortunately, that's a water box gate valve, and you cant buy them separately which really sucks. I don't know why these companies (waterbox/Red sea) don't have parts that you can buy.

 

[brandon429]

WV called it, what a strange warning for the bac.

water flow through a high surface area medium/sock = great idea bc that in no way keeps the other areas of the tank free of seeding. It doesn't matter if you run nine extra filter socks your tank will cycle without delay compared to those that do not.

I would recommend only ceasing 100% water changes lol within the hour of adding bottle bac, now that's a warning (irony=after 24 hours even that wont matter, Dr Reef's thread uses that verification mechanism)

 

[djray77]

Thanks guys for clearing that up. I was watching Dr. Tims video on cycling and when he said to take the filter socks out as the bacteria will get trapped in there I said to myself, OH crap I can't do that lol!! Got me concerned.

 

[brandon429]

I want to be the first on file to say that the upcoming stuck .25 reading has nothing to do with the filter sock

or the stuck nitrite part coming

in fact those two readings prove bac is in the system, if the sock caught it all you would be stuck at just initial level pure ammonia with no reduction, no other metabolites would form