Another cycling question...carbon???

[1911_guy]

I'm trying to cycle my QT. This is a 20g high all glass tank with 17 lbs semi-cured tonga branch LR. Heater, 900MJ and temporarily Mag 5 pump for max water flow. I'm using a Marineland Emperor 280 filter with carbon and some ceramic cylinders in the other drop down container that it comes with.
Here's my question...if the carbon is designed to remove ammonia, should I turn off the filter during the cycle? Will leaving the filter with carbon in it slow down the cycle process?
I would like for this tank to cycle in less than 2 weeks and I really don't want to use a shrimp...I will be "feeding" the tank with different types of fish food.
Any suggestions?

 

[xdave]

Dont use any type of chemical filtration when cycling. You may also consider the fact that carbon will remove medications as well, so it isn't really suited for a QT anyways. Replace it with more biological media. Ceramic media doesn't have that good of surface area, go with Biochem beads or the cheap route of lava gravel.

 

[stanlalee]

you should take the liverock out too. If you ever hypo or medicate you will kill many of the creatures living in it and if you have to medicate the QT it may harbor medication long after you've ran carbon and changed the water go remove it. It may have dormant parasites as well. Most people just run a hang on back like your emperor and PVC for the fish to hide in or put a small amount of substrate or liverock rubble in a cup or where it can easily be removed if any treatment is neccessary.

 

[1911_guy]

I'm using the LR to cycle the tank...I plan on removing the rock if I ever need to medicate.
So I should remove the carbon during cycle and if I ever have to medicate, right???

 

[xdave]

Yes, the meds instructions will remind you.