Carbon Or Skimmer During Cycling?

Ok, my tank's been cycling for 5 weeks now...and so far...I can't get it to settle. I'm starting to think that maybe running both my carbon HOT filter and remora is actually affecting the cycling process. Any ideas, 'cause I'm getting very frustrated here.

Here's my set up once again:

46 Gal. Tank

19 lbs LR...uncured from day 1. 34 lbs of dead rock. I recently added 16 two days ago.

40 lbs LS

Remora skimmer with maxijet 1200. been running for a week and two days

Penguin Bio-Wheel HOT filter...been runing since day one.

Heater at steady 78 degrees.

Lighting: until today, I have been using a regular fluorecent single strip light which was my freshwater tank light. I have a set of T5 HOs but I still have not used it....DOES LIGHTING make a difference durying the cycling?

Gravity is 1.023. To fill up water due to evaporation/skimming, I use freshwater RO.

This is what I have so far in water paramaters as of today 10/20/07:

pH8.0
Alk 3.6
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0.5
Amm. 0.25

Weird, 'cause on 10/16/07 it was:

pH 8.2
Alk 3.6....didn't change. But it's way high..or not?
Nitrate 2.5
Nitrite 0.1
Ammonia 0.25

Now, I must mention, YESTERDAY, my two Rotweillers were playing around, and they accidentaly knocked my cousin, who in turn grabbed into my aquarium and almost knocked it down...all the rocks inside the aquarium fell, so I spent 3.5 hours with my arms inside the tank trying to get tthe rocks back in place. Now, do you guys think this could've contributed to the change in the water parameters at all? I'm asking 'cause of the of the difference between the 16th and 20th. Anyway, I thought I should mention this both 'cause it was funny and 'cause I was curious.

Anyway, I'll appreciate any tips/help you can provide me. Thanks!

 

I would not run any if still cycling, You should not run the skimmer until like 4 or 5 months.

 

Really? even if the LR wasn't cured?

 

some tanks do that for longer than others.when you start using the lights,i bet you get some algae at 1st.you may want some cleaner crew in there to take care of it.my lfs runs a big skimmer while curing lr.

 

well maybe if the liverock wasnt cured, then yeah run it for a little while until it takes out all the dead matter and then turn off the skimmer. The skimmer will delay coraline growth and really wont pull out nothing out of the water after it removes the live rock die off.

 

Personally, I wouldn't use carbon or skimmer during cycling as it will take out some of the good stuff along with the bad and slow things down. Looks to me like it's not finished cycling. Sounds like you need to help it along with some sand boost or throw the kid in (just kidding).
Yes, I think your arm in the water for that long probably brought the PH down but if it's not going back up you might have to add some PH UP or do a small water change.

 

Well, the skimmer has only been running for a little over a week...the tank however is 5 weeks old today. The whole time since 5 weeks ago I ran the carbon HOT filter witht the uncured LR. The skimmer, like I said, started a week ago and it's been skimming some nasty yellowish water every day.

 

you should look for dead corals and dead sponge in the rock if its taking to long.

 

Because you added 16lbs. of rock 2 days ago you have started your cycle all over again. each time rock is added you will experience a cycle of some sort.
I to believe that running carbon is not required. How ever I feel the skimmer is important form day 1.

J

 

i Agree the sooner the wastes are exported the better the bacteria is gonna grow in the tank regardless of running a skimmer and multiplies at a fast rate...so it would'nt really affect the cycle.