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So my tank is all setup now, ill be posting pics tonight, i got my rocks and I just need to know if I should just turn on the skimmer and start cycling? Any info for this point would be greatly appreciated!
Cool Cool, its a Rio Nano Skimmer I think, I'll be home before 5 so I'll take pics then and post em right away. I'll probably head back for some more rocks friday maybe. Now as far as cycling, the tank should just run its course? I think I'll add the other Karolla power head I have to in the tank so I have two in there. I have my test kit so now all I'll need is some tips for cycling
Alright now i got my 2nd powerhead in there. I just turned on the skimmer and its still making like noises, kinda like a new filter for a freshwater tank when you start it for the 1st time. I did everything they said, now what is supposed to happen now with this?
I just adjusted the water flow on the side where the water comes out, a small turn on the intake tube as well, but thats it. I hear that it takes 24 hours or more to break this thing in. Any help I could use right now
Give the skimmer 24 hours like the instructions say. I've never used that particular skimmer but i'm sure if you followed the directions you're good to go.
To start cycle you can throw some fish food in there. Not alot just something that will breakdown and give bacteria something to live off of.
After that you wait about 6 weeks, give or take, and test your water with Nitrate, Amonia, and Nitrite kits.
It'd bubbling, that's great. let is run a while, it'll start to skim. It needs to get slimed up a bit first. Your tank is new there may not be a lot of stuff that that skimmer can pull out yet. Be patient, there will be plenty as the tank matures.
Like Mike said, add a small amount of food, like you were feeding a few fish, let that hang for several weeks, six is not unusual.
Did you get the rock at Trop? Usually their stuff is pretty well cured you may not see a lot of a cycle. You need to test for ammonia and nitrates just to see what you have. Trop gives out a sheet with the basics. Someone posted water parameters here (or somewhere I forget)you should take a look. Very nice piece of rock. ;D
Only reefers would say something like that and not be referring to an engagement ring haha.
Now you have two things happening at the same time. In the cycle bacteria are growing and breaking down any live matter that you have in the tank already. If you have some die off on the rock this will create a spike in your reading for ammonia and nitrates. That is the first part of the cycle the second is that the bacteria are establishing themselves in the rock and sand. In this case it is good as you want that to happen. That will take a bit longer and you should SLOWLY be able to add livestock after the spike occurs.
Yeah I'm really happy. Im going to tropi tomorrow to get some more rocks and that bio-speria that mike suggested and I'll be almost set, next week I might add a coral
Good plan on the rock and bio-speria. But hold your horses on the coral. Planning prevents piss poor performance. Tell us what fish you plan on having, what kind of corals, and what lights you have. One florescent light will not support most corals.