Cycle QUESTION

[sallen]

My tank went through cycling about 6 months ago. I changed my bed from shells to sand about one week ago. I got the sand from the beach that is usually covered by water.I just put in some LR for better filtrtation. I need to use a protein skimmer on my 150 - 200 ltr tank. Can i get rid of my HOB filter that went through my cycling process about 6 monts ago or not, do i have to go through another cycle???????

 

[lion_crazz]

What else do you have as far as filtration (to remove particulate matter)?

 

[gsd]

How many pounds of LR is in there and what is the bio load. LR is usualy the main means of filtration if there is sufficient amount of it in a tank, but you still need some means to remove particulate matter, and a hob is good for that. As to the tank going thorugh another cycle or not is hard to say but odds are its gong to cycle sinceyou placed sand and LR in there after the cycle. Even if that sand was live there is going to be die off occuring from the time you dug it up until you got it in the tank, same for live rock, it too is gonna have die off, and how much is anyones guess, and how long a cycle may be is also anyones guess. It could be almost overnight or a few days or a week or more.Only water tests can tell.

 

[sallen]

Good point. There is ony 7.5kg of LR in my tank at the moment. I just bought a skimmer of ---- so waiting for that. Might use the skimmer instead of the HOB filter. SO if my tank begins to cycle what should i do??? i got two tclowns, shrimps, snails, hermits and a anemone in there.

 

[lion_crazz]

The skimmer and filter do two different things. I would be safe and use both.

 

[sallen]

So how can i run the tank without the HOB filter???

 

[gsd]

You just have to make sure you have enough live rock in the tank, and the bio load is not excessive. Yu still need a means of getting particulate matter out so some filter is still needed.....I guess you could go totally without one if yu used a vac or syphon to clean out accumulated particulate matter.
Ifs its just the hob filter, your not happy with, they make canister filters as well.

 

[sallen]

now i am really confused. I thought the skimmer would take care of the particle matter and with enough lr i could discard the filter. It takes up on end of my tank because its quite big. See pic

 

[philgmiami]

Originally Posted by sallen
My tank went through cycling about 6 months ago. I changed my bed from shells to sand about one week ago. I got the sand from the beach that is usually covered by water.I just put in some LR for better filtrtation. I need to use a protein skimmer on my 150 - 200 ltr tank. Can i get rid of my HOB filter that went through my cycling process about 6 monts ago or not, do i have to go through another cycle???????
is that you in the pic?,lol :joy:

 

[sallen]

Yes Can U Help Me Please

 

[philgmiami]

Originally Posted by sallen
Yes Can U Help Me Please
which one is you in pic?.. u need to fill up your tank to the top.. if you dont over time youll get build up on the glass that is exposed to air.. its a byatch to get off.. looks like you need alot more live rock to keep up with the bio.. you nreed at least 1 pound of live rock for every gallon.. my tank is a 180g.. i have about 80 pounds of lr.. thats why i still run bio balls.. i take out some bio balls at a time everytime i add more live rock....also make sure you have a powerful enough return pump.. 10-20 times over your tank size for circulation..exp............100g tank would need 1000gph(10times) 2000pgh 20times pum.. your water would stay crystal clear

.. just make sure you change up your berlin bag or pre filter at leat 1once a week

p

 

[sallen]

I have brown hair. That is a lot of info to take in, i know i need some more lr. But are u referring to my filter as the return pump??? my tank is 4ft long 30cm width and 38cm High so i think it holds about 130- 140 litres. I was never any good at maths. The filter is a aquaclear 300 and i have one powerhead 500lph. thanks for replying

 

[nigerbang]

if you dont like the HOB filter i would change it out, or goto a canister filter that way all you can see is the return nozzle and the intake tubing, ehiem and fluval make good ones, You could buy one of the magnum series. As far as only using live rock as a filter that is more expense then just breaking down and buying a filter. You would need around 2.5 to 3.0lbs per gal, and then vacuum all the time.