When can I turn on my carbon filter during Cycling ?

It's been over a week and it has just live rocks and all test are normal. I got the live rocks from this place and transport them to my place during 30 minutes, I didn't see any signs of any dead stuff on it. The place who sold it to me said the rocks were there for over a year already. I would like to know when I can turn my carbon filters on during the cycling process ?

 

I don't think carbon filtration will play a significant role in the cycle. you will only be clogging your filter with garbage

You should add something to decompose to start the cycle like a raw cocktail shrimp or fish food. this will allow the biological filtration in your live rock to grow and mature. Some people even at a fish

J

 

you mean put a live fish ?

 

preferably not a live fish. while this is one method used to add bio matter to a cycling tank it can cause considerable stress to even the hardiest damsels and thus not the best thing to do (also not the best fish to keep anyways, depending). like posted ^above^ just add some fish flakes, brine, or a piece of well washed raw shrimp.

 

Yes you can use a damsel, they are hardy and can survive the cycle. But they can be aggressive and are a pain in the butt to catch later on. Also some say its is cruel to do this. But A piece of dead shrimp will kick start it too. Just a couple of options.

 

As everyone above has said a live fish can be used but it's not the most ethical thing to do. I like the raw shrimp method best

 

The 120g system that I'm running today was started in a similar manner to what you have described. I chose to start from the beginning with GFO and Carbon as the LR was well seasoned in an operating system.

I also chose to use a pair of damsels to get through the "cycle"...

From my observations, there has been little/no indication on the NH3, NO2, NO3, & PO4 with this method of starting. There have been 2 "small" blooms of algae in the tank to testify to the cycling which is going on. Both of which have been cleaned up by the the CUC.

 

pardon me my ignorance but I am really new at this. when you say fish flakes, you mean fish food flakes or actual fish flakes ? if I don't put anything as mention above, will my tank still cycle ?

Yojen

 

No worries always best to take the time and ask the question then to learn the hard way. Yes, i was talking about fish food flakes used for feeding fish. Really, all you are doing is adding something that will create an ammonia (NH3) spike this in turn is used to feed (grow) bacteria that converts NH3 to nitrite. Nitrite is then consumed by another bacteria that finally converts nitrite to nitrate (NO3) which is not as harmful to your inhabitants.
dont add too much just a pinch or two every few days.

 

addressing the use of carbon: using carbon to remove algae.
Having an algae bloom during your cycle is normal. The algae blooms most experience during the cycle period is a visual sign of what is going on in your tank. algae blooms occur when you have heavy amounts of phosphate (PO4), extra food, large die off, or bio load that your NO3 and NO2 converting bacteria cant keep pace with. the reason why we add food to the system during the cycle is to feed these bacteria so that they will grow and continue to grow throughout your tanks life so they continuously convert the harmful wastes thats produced by fish. As your cycle "ends" you will see your algae slowly stop growing and with a CUC they will be kept under control. The "end" of the cycle means you have established enough beneficial bacteria in your tank to convert NH3 to NO2 to NO3. I put quotes in the word "end" bc your tank is always cycling as it is always converting waste as it is produced.

in the end i would not worry about the algae that is created during the cycle as it will be eliminated by the cuc but more importantly by good maintenance and care for the water quality. carbon will remove some of the waste but wont address what is causing the waste which is much more important..