Filter on while cycling??

rod_the_gh

rod_the_gh

Member
I started my cycle about 2-3 wks ago. I've been running my filter this whole time. Should I be running a filter while it cycles???
Also my live rock is coming in about 5 days. Is it allright if I put it in or will it restart my cycle?
Thnks
 
ricks280

ricks280

Member
hi rod , yes your tank will cycle again most likely even more than your original cycle
and that is becouse of the die back your rock is going to have ( that is what im going through now) just added in hit your skimmer, filter and keep your lights on for at least 6 hours so that you might be abble to save some of the creatures within your lr. ( just my op.) have fun checking the little creatures! (rick) :D
 
draczka2

draczka2

Member
i agree, i'm on my 2nd week w/ lr/ls one yellowtail damsel(my uncle wanted it out of his tank), and a engineer gobi(same deal with this one). i ran my lights for 4 hours the first day, 5 the next and so on. my ammonia really didn't go nutts, but my nitrites and nitrates were through the roof. i do at least 10 gal. water changes per day to try and not stress the fish,and lr to much. my nitrites are calming down a little now, but i still test twice a day, and change water as needed.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by rod_the_gh
I started my cycle about 2-3 wks ago. I've been running my filter this whole time. Should I be running a filter while it cycles???
Also my live rock is coming in about 5 days. Is it allright if I put it in or will it restart my cycle?
Yep. Keep the filter running if you're going to continue to use it after the cycle.
After you add the live rock your ammonia will probably spike again. I'd suggest doing 20 - 25% water changes whenever the ammonia level is above 0.5ppm. That might mean changing water every day for several days so be sure to make new water after each water change to prepare for the next one.
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
thats the only problem with using live rock to cycle the creatures may die.
I agree if your gonna run the filter afterwords I would run it, it will allow for bacteria to grow on the media to help filter stuff.
As for the live rock you could cure it in a seperate container so you wont have to worrie about another spike.
 
rod_the_gh

rod_the_gh

Member
As of today here's what I have.
10 gallon
heater
Live Sand
RO Water
Decomposing Shrimp
Biowheel Powerfilter
Live Rock (coming in the mail)
Salitinity 1.021
Temp 80
Ammonia .8-1
Nitrite .5
Alkaline 300
PH 7.8
Nitrate 30-40
Do these sound right? I think the salt has to go up a little and I turned the thermometer down a tad bit, but would these numbers look right for about 2 wks into my cycle?
This is torture waiting for this thing to cycle....ahahhhhhhhhh
 
snipe

snipe

Active Member
temp is alright, SG dose need to come up and I wouldnt worrie about the rest until the cycle is done.
 
draczka2

draczka2

Member
by doing water changes you will limit the stress, and you will not have as much die off. you also will not be dragging the cycle on longer than if you didn't do water changes. you have to test your water alot, and babysit your tank. the bacteria is going to grow as fast as it can. as your cycle progresses and your water levels start to level of you back off the water changes. this takes alot of time and patience. and by doing water changes your not looking to get zero readings, your just lessening the stress by removing heavy concentrations.IMO!
 
shiby1510

shiby1510

Member
I thought the rule of thumb was always to wait until everything is 0 but the trate... and then do a water change to lower the trate and cycle is complete....
:notsure:
 
ricks280

ricks280

Member
hi, rod i was just reading your salinity level and imo you should be around 1024-1025.
make sure that the top ups are r.o. and not salt water.
(rick)
 
draczka2

draczka2

Member
everyone has a different way of doing things. the way i cycle works for me, and i feel i have less die off on my rock, and my 2 fish i got stuck with won't die either. like i said before i first got 10# of 2 1/2 year old rock from my uncle and the rest is not fully cured(alot cheaper than fully cured). i would have gotten all my rock uncured, and cured it in my display tank, but a tank was being broken down, and the price was right. Also the fish were going to be flushed if i didn't save them.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by shiby1510
I thought the rule of thumb was always to wait until everything is 0 but the trate... and then do a water change to lower the trate and cycle is complete....
:notsure:
I agree with Drac. If you're not using live rock or live sand to cycle then there's no need for water changes. But if you're using live rock to cycle then why kill all the critters with ammonia and end up with pretty base rock?
IMO live rock works best for filtration when it has a high diversity of animals living in it. If you allow ammonia to stay high for a long time then you will not have a high diversity of animals. Only the hardiest will survive.
 
rod_the_gh

rod_the_gh

Member
So i should wait until my lr comes and then do a water change? I've already done one 50% change about a week ago. BTW my LR is cured. So i don't konw if that matters.
 
bacffin

bacffin

Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
I agree with Drac. If you're not using live rock or live sand to cycle then there's no need for water changes. But if you're using live rock to cycle then why kill all the critters with ammonia and end up with pretty base rock?
IMO live rock works best for filtration when it has a high diversity of animals living in it. If you allow ammonia to stay high for a long time then you will not have a high diversity of animals. Only the hardiest will survive.

Based on this, I wonder if I killed all my critters...dang
 
draczka2

draczka2

Member
Originally Posted by Bacffin
Based on this, I wonder if I killed all my critters...dang

i doubt you killed them all. my point is that i want them all to live, and i know that is unrealistic but lessoning the stress imo is best for me and my tank. to get back to the subject earlier, i would think that if you have fully cured lr coming you would want to do water changes again imo. i don't know it all but thats my feeling.
 
rod_the_gh

rod_the_gh

Member
Thans everybody for responding. Here's a pic I've got to show you guys. The little thing in there is the rotting shrimp. :cheer:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top