Skimmer During Cycling?

Discussion in 'Protein Skimmers' started by thenagler72, Feb 28, 2008.

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  1. thenagler72

    thenagler72 Astrea Snail

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    Hey Everyone. I just wanted to see what everyone thought about having the skimmer on or off while cycling their tank? what do you think?
     
    thenagler72, Feb 28, 2008
    thenagler72, Feb 28, 2008
    #1

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  2. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    I would have to say off.
     
    lunatik_69, Feb 28, 2008
    lunatik_69, Feb 28, 2008
    #2
  3. Otty

    Otty Giant Squid

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    Off unless you put in some real nasty LR. There is nothing in the water to skim out and it will remove coralline spore that you desperately need right now during the start of the tank.
    I never turned mine on for almost six months after I started the tank.
     
    Otty, Feb 28, 2008
    Otty, Feb 28, 2008
    #3
  4. coral reefer

    coral reefer Giant Squid

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    I will have to disagree and say run the skimmer! I understand where you guys are coming from with not running it, however, I would employ the use of a skimmer and carbon as well. The only thing I would refrain from is doing water changes during the cycling stage.
    The reasons for using the skimmer initially is oxygen replenishment, removal of dissolved organics and inorganics, and increased water flow in a nut shell without getting too technical.
     
    coral reefer, Feb 28, 2008
    coral reefer, Feb 28, 2008
    #4
  5. Tangster

    Tangster 3reef Sponsor

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    How was the tank cycled ? As a rule I'd not us a skimmer for several month on average . But I do everything differently then I see being done nowadays..
     
    Tangster, Feb 28, 2008
    Tangster, Feb 28, 2008
    #5
  6. thenagler72

    thenagler72 Astrea Snail

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    Well I put 40 lbs live sand and around 30 lbs live rock. after a couple of weeks i put a couple of damsels in and everything has been going well. I started the skimmmer after two or three weeks. The skimmer is the only filtration running on the tank. Other than that just have lots of water flow.
     
    thenagler72, Feb 28, 2008
    thenagler72, Feb 28, 2008
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  7. wastemanagement

    wastemanagement Eyelash Blennie

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    with just the skimmer i would be considering more live rock
    I didnt skimm until my cycle was over and then some.but I just used base rock
     
    wastemanagement, Feb 28, 2008
    wastemanagement, Feb 28, 2008
    #7
  8. SELENAD

    SELENAD Plankton

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    i read that you should not use it during cycling process do to your tank has to accelerate in nitrites and nitrates so skimming would interupt the process
     
    SELENAD, Feb 28, 2008
    SELENAD, Feb 28, 2008
    #8
  9. bmshehan

    bmshehan Fu Manchu Lion Fish

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    I've heard lots of good info on why not to, such as Otty stated, so I am doing nothing but looking at my tank... for at least another couple of months! I do have carbon in my filter which now I wish I wouldn't have put in, but oh well. IMO practice the blank stare way of cycling like I am;D. Concentrate on hardware (lights, research, canopy, fans, research, wavemaker, fuge, research, wet/dry, where to put the skimmer, research, etc.).
     
    bmshehan, Feb 28, 2008
    bmshehan, Feb 28, 2008
    #9