In need for help in tank cycling

[Ironlung02]

Hi guys,ive jus started my saltwater tank and starts the tank cycled yesterday.The question is shld i turn ON my protein skimmer aswell?

[xeneryx]

Don't have to bro

[Immanuel Tan]

U can off ur skimmer and lights

[Ironlung02]

Noted.Thanks guys.Appreciate the help.

[Ironlung02]

Beside dosing bacteria during the cycle,is there anything else that i shld dose?

[Immanuel Tan]

That's all for now.

[kenyee]

U need to introduce ammonia in order to let the bacteria to colonize ur rocks & biomedia..normally ppl will put market prawn..cheers & happy reefing..

[Ironlung02]

Im dosing Biodigest for now.Is it good enuf?

[Ironlung02]

Thanks for the linked info Kenyee

[Ironlung02]

Thanks Immanual

[Ironlung02]

How many vial should i dose in a week?

Edited June 21, 2015 by Ironlung02

[Guest]

Im dosing Biodigest for now.Is it good enuf?

Depending on the strength of the biodigest which u bought , the instruction should explain the dosage so just follow the recommended dose.

[Ironlung02]

Noted,thanks bro Harlequin Mania

[Ironlung02]

Can i cycle my tank with the Active carbon in my filteration?

[SubzeroLT]

Its a waste to use carbon during the cycling process.

Carbon absorbs organics (eg. humic substances which make the water brown, carbohydrates etc) and chemicals. You probably want the organics in the water as a food source for the bacteria which is part of the cycling process.

During the cycling process, as others mentioned above,

- Add an ammonia source (eg. market prawn)

- Turn off the following as its not required during the cycling period - chiller (no benefit since you don't have corals in there), light (switching it on only encourage algae growth), skimmer (you want the organic waste to feed the bacteria)

- No need to dose anything else. Just wait patiently & monitor ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels

[Ironlung02]

Thanks for the helpful tips bro.So i have to remove the AC in my filteration or just leave it?

[SubzeroLT]

Suggest to remove the AC

[Ironlung02]

Noted.will do.thanks bro Subzero.sorry for asking too much question

[SubzeroLT]

Noted.will do.thanks bro Subzero.sorry for asking too much question

No problem. All the best with your tank.

[leejwa]

We are all here to learn, and glad that all the people here are so helpful.

[Nelson Monolove]

Hi guys.tank bout 3weeks.Jus tested nitrite 0, nitrate bout 50-60.should I remove prawn & wait?or leave it?water change?

[SubzeroLT]

Your ammonia is 0 right?

Should be alright to remove the prawn & do a major water change (perhaps 50%) to halve the nitrates.

Then you are all set to add livestock slowly.

[Nelson Monolove]

Yup zero with nitirite.will continue monitor too.thks!

[Guest]

Well don't think anyone have mention this yet, if you have sand bed or rock , try not to move it around it will cause your nitrate to spike

This is a signature : hi

[tuajia]

Well don't think anyone have mention this yet, if you have sand bed or rock , try not to move it around it will cause your nitrate to spike

This is a signature : hi

Interesting info bro. Just curious, why does doing that cause it to spike? On that note... I've adjusted my live rock a few times within the last month of cycling and my hitckhiker damsel disturbs the sandbed all the time... omg

Luckily water parameters still seem fine... for now

Edited July 4, 2015 by tuajia