Now what?

cam78

cam78

Active Member
OK got my refugium tank ready and the pump and overflow is on its way. Do I have to cycle this refugium tank? If so how long and what kind of process is it? Can you guys give me some pointers. Will be using LR and LS. Do I filter it for a few days before hooking it up? Let me know thanks.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
A refuge wouldn't need to be cycled. You are not putting uncured stuff in their right? It is an extension of your DT. Why would it need to cycle?
 
chuckcac

chuckcac

Member
you could...
1. cycle the new LR & LS in the fuge/sump by itself with some flow & a heater... then hook it up to the DT when the parameters match
2. hook up the sump/fuge and run it with water only.... cycle the rock & sand in a rubbermaid & add when finished...
what do we think? :thinking:
 
chuckcac

chuckcac

Member
Originally Posted by CAM78
yes, sorry, thought everyone new that. Thank you for clearing that up.
is the LR cured? or uncured? LFS bought? or shipped? if its fully cured, like Sepulatian said... it may not cycle.
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
It will be bought from the LFS so its pretty much cured I would think. As for the LS I never used that before, and will be bought from th LFS. Does LS need to cycle? Like I said I never used it before. How is this mud and crud I see for sale, do I use that?
As for cycling everything within the refuge (thats prob what I'll do) I don't need to set up a filter or anything do I? Just maybe a air bubbler or something?
Any suggestions would help.
 
chuckcac

chuckcac

Member
not sure about that mud stuff... and also not so sure the LS would cylce...
but i know you would not need the filter to cycle the fuge... just a heater, good SW water flow... and test kits
if you get it from the LFS and keep it sumberged in SW during the travel time - chances are there wont be any die-off and it wont cause a cycle.... but, always better to be safe than sorry - especially sice your DT is established...
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
I wondering if it would be better to just use argonite or maybe grab some from my tank to seed it. How does LFS sell LS? Is it frozen, in a tank, or just bagged sand? I have to see. Also at the LFS how do I know if the LR is cured? I know they move a decent amount of it so I never know if it is cured or not. Is the smelling test the only way? If it smells fishy then its no good, and if there is no smell its cured? Is this the most reliable way?
 
dogstar

dogstar

Active Member
Once you set it up and add more water to the system and all is well, then just add well rinsed aragonite sand, does not need to be LS, you can add a little established sand from the DT to seed the fuge sand or/and from the LR...if the LR is from a LFS and you are confident that it is fully cured, then go ahead and add it too and dont worry about a cycle....
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
Originally Posted by CAM78
Thats the thing, how do I know if it is fully cured?
Smell it, if it has a clean ocean smell to it you are good, but if it smells (kind of like a clogged drain pipe, lol) then no, it's not cured yet.
 
keyah1

keyah1

New Member
If you can, try using LS from your DT in your sump then you don't have to worry about cycling. Hopefull this helps.
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
What if I do get LS, that has to cycle right? How does it come packaged? At LFS that is.
 
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