Skimmer On or Off during Cycling??

Hi!

I am going to start my new 120 gals tank with 60 lbs of LR and wonder if the I should use my skimmer or not during the cycling period?

I read very different opinions in that subject but I am not convince yet about the best way to do it.

Could I have your opinion?

Thanks.

 

If its a brand new skimmer id run it just to break it in if not i would not run it. I have a 29 cycling now and i dont have a skimmer on it

 

beautemps up to 3 months ago

I was a firm believer that the skimmer if used when cycling a tank , would remove the things that you need in order for the bacteria to proliferate, in other words your removing the things that bacteria need, thus your cycle is prolonged as a result of this

I would still feel the same way, if a tank was being established using base rock and dry sand - as underthose circumstances I still feel that the tank could use all the nutrients required for establishing / feeding the bacteria

but if a tank is being cycled with live rock, I am now of the opinion that running the skimmer can be beneficial as you will probably get a very high spike from die off and reducing the burden on the biological filtration capacity is not harmfull IMO

You have enough going on anyway so the use of the skimmer is not detrimental IMO

Steve

 

on
helps things survive by clean the water