new tank started

i started a cycle today for saltwater on a 60 gallon tank and i was wondering if the emperor 400 filter is okay, i have 2 of them but with no skimmer, can i get a skimmer later like in 2 weeks?

 

you can go up to six weeks skimmerless as some will say here, i think the emp 400 will be ok put you must get a skimmer at some point and remember take it slow

 

was that you that just asked the same question on another thread about the emperor? I replied on the other thread. I used an emperor on my 55 gal for 7 years

 

Oh yeah. Actually, you can run your emperor as long as it does not have any carbon in it. If you want to use it as a source of biological media, then by all means. However, if you have enough LR in your tank, you can get away with just using the emperor for carbon only.

Now, as stated above, you don't need to use your skimmer until your tank is cycled. Also, you only need to use actinic lighting. So, IMO, actinic lighting only, no carbon and no skimming for your cycling period.

 

thanks but i am a bit confused when you statr "as long as it does nt have any carbon in it". the filters have carbon and the store gave me something that is called "chemi-pure". is that okay? and can i remove the wheels from the filters? how many lbs of LR do i need to have in my tank 60 gallons to only use carbon, does that mean i wont need the filters?

 

Hi SP5689 - PharmrJohn is indicating you have 2 options with that filter unit

Option 1 - use it as a purely biological filter with media suitable for that purpose ( sintered glass etc)

Option 2 - if you have a approximately, for your size 100 Lbs of live rock or about 1/3 the volume of your tank in live rock (Guitar mans more logical calculating method ) - you will not eventually need the supplemental biological filtration as the rock will be colonised with enough bacteria species to deal with the tank waste

in option 2 - you can still use the power filter for chemical filtration - carbon etc - but carbon needs to be changed often (it can leach back into the water all the bad things it absorbed)

chemi pure - you dont need this in your filter - and you dont want it in your filter while your tank is new - it locks up things that you want to establish bacteria to cope with

Steve

 

A protein skimmer can be a vital piece of equipment and an excellent form of mechanical filtration. Having said this, you do not need to employ the use of a protein skimmer for a successful reef aquarium. However, for a novice aquarist I would tend to refrain from this tactic, but it can be done as I run my nano and the 75 reef without a skimmer.
Now, it is not a problem for you to wait a couple weeks to purchase the skimmer, but the Emporer filter is not needed once the skimmer is up and running. Unless you plan on using the filter as a means of housing carbon, live rock or increasing water flow, the Emperor doesn't have a profound impact as far as mechanical filtration or the health of your aquarium is concerned, in my opinion.

 

Dont put carbon in for the cycle. Take out the chemipure and once your cycle is done, then you can put it back in.

 

thanks for the replies, also note that the tank was used for freshwater and copper medication was used what should i use to take care of this

 

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