Do I need to cycle my fuge?

OK, so I just ordered the necessary parts from DFS to finish off my fuge. My set up is simple. I have a 20g long with a piece of acrylic topped off with eggcrate to create a 12"x12" section that will be the fuge. I have the ability to control flow.

Now.....I have heard that one should cycle a fuge before bringing it online. My plan is to put in a jar full of the mud with about an inch of LS on top, then throw in some Chaeto (or whatever the collective mind thinks is the best....I am open to opinion of course). Is this one of life's great truths? Or can I just bring this badboy online immediately?

I can divert the flow from the fuge section and run from the sump exclusively whilst running one of those small mechanical/chemical filtration systems (for a 30g tank) just to keep the water moving and whatnot. Mostly whatnot. I can also put in a small 110gph powerhead if necessary.

The parts will arrive early next week and I want to throw this together by Wednesday. Whatcha think?

And since a picture is worth 742 words, here is my wonderful, PACKED 20g long (and soon to add more).



TIA and Peace.......John.;D

 

That's a good question? I would guess that you may not have to cycle the fuge. Now the cheato and such will need reverse lighting and if you are putting sand in there it may have to cycle. I'm curious myself. I'll listen to what others have to say. Good luck.

 

If you aren't adding uncured live rock to it why would you need to cycle. If you're using mud you want to make sure it's fully wet before current goes over it though.

 

I look at it as, your fuge does not become beneficial until everything cycles. It is the additions of life and waste that feed the fuge to become a filter. So maybe saying wait til it cycles is st some level accurate then.

Either way, this is an established tank corrrect? So that should help. I used Mud and Cheato for mine and fired it all up.

Just check, check your params as you, but IMO - I dont think you need to wait the x weeks to cycle for the new fuge.


Cheers

 

OK, thanks guys. Didn't make much sense to me when I read it (cannot even remember where I read it.).