When cycling do I....?

[Michael Faul]

do I run my lights?
Do I run my refugium?
Do I run my wireless circulation?
Do I run my skimmer?

 

[Bearded Fish Man]

No lights, no skimmer for 30 days -

 

[Michael Faul]

Thank you!

 

[knukles55]

Make a tank look full after drinking a case of beer. Works everytime :)

 

[jsker]

I ran everything. Its going to be running after the cycle and everything was seasoned

 

[Brian Kim]

Guess start breaking in those new shinny equipments early, especially the skimmer.
Well no skimmer or UV if you are going to be adding live bacteria such as dr.tim, biospira

 

[Michael Faul]

Okay the one I understand is no skimmer since I'm trying to build all kinds of stuff to get this cycle going. I am using liquid bacteria.

 

[domination2580]

Okay the one I understand is no skimmer since I'm trying to build all kinds of stuff to get this cycle going. I am using liquid bacteria.

The skimmer isnt going to take the bacteria out. It takes out the excess organics. Bacteria will grown on your rock and sand. It is barely ever in the water column.

 

[Michael Faul]

Okay makes sense. I'm learning. Thanks.

 

[domination2580]

Okay makes sense. I'm learning. Thanks.

No problem. I started my cycling on a 8 gallon cube with skimmer on all the time. Didnt even dose bacteria and its converting ammonia and nitrite to 0 overnight. I add about a capful of pure ammonia and just added a live rock.

 

[Michael Faul]

I thought I would tackle the skimmer later in the cycle but I guess I could do it now. Question for you. How can I control my Reef Octopuss. Seems like the bubbles go to far up into the cup. I was told they should stop before that like at the smallest part of the neck.

 

[domination2580]

I thought I would tackle the skimmer later in the cycle but I guess I could do it now. Question for you. How can I control my Reef Octopuss. Seems like the bubbles go to far up into the cup. I was told they should stop before that like at the smallest part of the neck.

There should be an adjustment on the skimmer. Usually either on the intake or outlet. Usually a knob.

 

[Michael Faul]

There is a tall PVC pipe that has "open" "close" on it and it turns about half way and then back again. I'll try that.

 

[Brian Kim]

The skimmer isnt going to take the bacteria out. It takes out the excess organics. Bacteria will grown on your rock and sand. It is barely ever in the water column.

If you look at any of those live bacteria bottles, it says to turn off the skimmer and UV for a few days. Bacteria will be on the water column for a few hours or maybe days once introduced to the tank until it settles onto the rocks

 

[Untamedrose]

Mostly Lights should be really low to off...not b/c it will mess with the cycle/bacteria b/c you can end up with algae out breaks to deal with making a mess with your tank. BUT if you stocked it with good LR with good coralline growth macro algae all that....dont want to loose that. So it's kinda a it depends.

refugium should absolutely be on...need to cycle that at the same time as the main tank. OR get to cycle it at a later date to then connect to the tank. Though If you are talking a 2.5 gal HOB refugium kinda thing I wouldnt be to worried about it.

"wireless circulation" assuming you mean your water pumps YES those need to be on...and Lots of water surface rippling will help the cycle along.

 

[knukles55]

There should be an adjustment on the skimmer. Usually either on the intake or outlet. Usually a knob.

Remember a skimmer needs to be broken in to. I would run it for a couple days or even a week or 2 on the lowest setting even if it's overflowing like crazy. till the pump starts breaking in. It's normal for it to overflow from my experience.

 

[domination2580]

http://www.instantocean.com/Product...up/bio-spira-saltwater-aquarium-bacteria.aspx
Says no where about turning off skimmer. It even says can use after a water change. I dont unlpug my skimmer when doing a water change. Not trying to fight but i find it a little hard to believe the no skimmer thing.

 

[domination2580]

Bacteria is fast growing and the chances of taking all of it out of the water column i think are pretty slim

 

[DracoKat]

I turned my skimmer on, but I did not plug the cup- I attached a hose and let the water run back into the sump. Partly I wanted to break it in since it was brand new, and partly I didn't want to take anything out of the tank yet. after 2 and a half weeks, I plugged the skimmer cup to let it start the real work

 

[Brian Kim]

http://www.instantocean.com/Product...up/bio-spira-saltwater-aquarium-bacteria.aspx
Says no where about turning off skimmer. It even says can use after a water change. I dont unlpug my skimmer when doing a water change. Not trying to fight but i find it a little hard to believe the no skimmer thing.

Not trying to argue with you, was just saying what the product recommends.