Skimmer during cycle?
- Thread starter jb1
- Start date
T
thomas712
Guest
Skimmer is not really needed for the cycle, what's to skimm? Turn it on after your cycled and you have done your 30% or so water change.
Thomas
Thomas
cincyreefer
Active Member
I wouldn't run the skimmer during the cycle. It seems many people think the skimmer will make it less stressful on the fish and give them a better chance of surviving, but i think that running a skimmer can cause water quality fluctations down the road. Given that you don't start a new tank off with too many fish, most hardy fish will gain a tolerance to the ammonia and nitrites as they start to rise and will easily survive. A skimmer would just prolong the cycle, and I have even seen spikes in ammonia later after new fish are added.
As Thomas said, I would turn on the skimmer after your first water change, which i recommend to be a week after the nitrites drop down close to zero.
As Thomas said, I would turn on the skimmer after your first water change, which i recommend to be a week after the nitrites drop down close to zero.
krowleey
Active Member
well with this being said i took the advise and ran my skimmer, cycling with 90 lbs of LR and LS and my cycle is close to complete in a weeks time, i wouldnt out a live fish in to cycle a tank myself, and cant agree that the fish will gain a tolerance to the ammonia and nitrites, ammonia is pue poison and fish can survive but i dont believe they build a tolerance to it. my xp is most fish will die, then i guess you can let it rot on the bottom for a week to kick start your cycle if not using LR and LS. but i just cant do that 
lesleybird
Active Member
Hi, I would only run the skimmer if you have a lot of uncurred live rock with a lot of die back that would really pollute the tank a lot. You would not want to use one if the live rock is curred as a lot of the organics in the water will be food for the growing bacteria colony. Just my thoughts on the matter. Lesley
cincyreefer
Active Member
Originally Posted by krowleey
well with this being said i took the advise and ran my skimmer, cycling with 90 lbs of LR and LS and my cycle is close to complete in a weeks time
Well this is the problem with running the skimmer... It appears that the tank has cycled since the ammonia is testing at 0, but you still havn't built up enough bacteria to break down all the ammonia. As soon as you add more of a bioload and the skimmer can't keep up, you will probably see an ammonia spike. After this spike is when your tank will be more "cycled" because it finally has the needed bacteria to account for the ammonia that is constantly being produced that the skimmer can't take care of.
I have yet to lose a hardy fish like a damsel or trigger during the cycle, provided the ammonia doesn't spike too fast from an excessive beginning load. If a fish doesn't build up some tolerance, then why can many fish survive a cycle while the same fish could be added during the cycle and die immediately?
well with this being said i took the advise and ran my skimmer, cycling with 90 lbs of LR and LS and my cycle is close to complete in a weeks time
Well this is the problem with running the skimmer... It appears that the tank has cycled since the ammonia is testing at 0, but you still havn't built up enough bacteria to break down all the ammonia. As soon as you add more of a bioload and the skimmer can't keep up, you will probably see an ammonia spike. After this spike is when your tank will be more "cycled" because it finally has the needed bacteria to account for the ammonia that is constantly being produced that the skimmer can't take care of.
I have yet to lose a hardy fish like a damsel or trigger during the cycle, provided the ammonia doesn't spike too fast from an excessive beginning load. If a fish doesn't build up some tolerance, then why can many fish survive a cycle while the same fish could be added during the cycle and die immediately?