Cycling and Water Changing questions...

[mpjmeyer]

When I plumb the tank to my sump underneath, can I install a T on the drain down pipe or the return pipe with a valve that I could open to drain water into a bucket or do you just siphon water from the DT or the sump?

Do you add new water into the sump or DT?

Do you instantly initiate a light schedule when starting a new tank?

What types of chemical reactions or spikes should I experience during the cycling process?

 

[Tyreef2016]

When I plumb the tank to my sump underneath, can I install a T on the drain down pipe or the return pipe with a valve that I could open to drain water into a bucket or do you just siphon water from the DT or the sump?

Do you add new water into the sump or DT?

Do you instantly initiate a light schedule when starting a new tank?

What types of chemical reactions or spikes should I experience during the cycling process?

Good questions!

You could totally add a T on the down drain, I actually thought about it but down have room under my tank. I wouldn't do the return as it would be pressurized coming up from the return pump.

Most will wait till they near the end of the cycle just to keep Algae and the diatom blooms at bay. Normally start the light cycle when you introduce your invertebrates and fish.

First Ammonia to get the cycle going. Ammonia is converted to NitRITE, NitRITE converted to NitRATE. this is the process of the cycling. When Ammonia and NitRITE read 0 your close. Wait for your NitRATE to drop some and then you can do your first water change to help bring NitRATE to 0 and you can start adding your CUC.

Happy Reefing!

 

[mpjmeyer]

Thank you very much for that response!! So I should wait to do the very first water change until the Nitrate drops close to 0?

Will it be a 50% or more change??

I assume if I use a T to drain the water, I should keep my return pump "on"so it keeps adding water to the DT to drain down...correct?

And do you add water back to the sump or main tank?

 

[Tyreef2016]

What size tank? See where Nitrate is when NitRite is 0. Say nitrates 50, wait a few days hopefully it will drop and be around 25 I would do 25% WC, Test again, Another 25% WC maybe a few days later then add that CUC.

 

[mpjmeyer]

65 gallon tank with a sump and 10 gallon refugium.

 

[Tyreef2016]

Nice! That should be fine I wouldn't do more then 50% at once though.

Also skipped this question, but I top off into my sump so the RO/DI water mixes a bit before entering the tank.