Skimmer gunk

[MaxCanada]

Could i start a cycle by adding an amount of skimmer gunk?


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[mike007]

No that would be a bad idea. Use good cured live rock or add some bacterial additives.

 

[KoleTang]

You could. But the best way to do it in my experience is to use a quality bacteria in a bottle like Dr. Tim's One and Only and a chromis. I had no cycle doing it this way.

It works because the amount of bacteria added can support the small waste of the chromis.

Adding a lot of nutrients like a dead shrimp or skimmate to a tank with a very small amount of bacteria will lead to the bacteria having to slowly build their population to accommodate for the nutrients. This is why "traditional" cycles take a month or more. The bacteria are overwhelmed.

If you do the Dr. Tim's method make sure to stock slowly. Every time you add a fish, the bacteria suddenly are getting more nutrients. Let them have a week or two to catch up between each new fish addition.

 

[NanaReefer]

Adding a fish is totally unnecessary. Plus it's usually a fish most people wind up removing due to aggression. Using a fish to help cycle a tank is very old school and cruel.
If it's ammonia you want buy a bottle. Its cheap and human :)


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[KoleTang]

Adding a fish is totally unnecessary. Plus it's usually a fish most people wind up removing due to aggression. Using a fish to help cycle a tank is very old school and cruel.
If it's ammonia you want buy a bottle. Its cheap and human :)


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It is not cruel unless there is an ammonia or nitrite spike. Which there wasn't.

Chromis are pretty chill fish. No aggression here.

I have tried it with ammonia and it does not work the same. The point of the chromis is that it is adding a very small amount of waste evenly throughout the day.