starting my cycle Protein skimmer or not

[thetman36]

I am about to start my cycle on my 210 gal reef tank. I am starting with dead rock and dead sand. I am going to use DR Tim's one and only bacteria and add ammonia to start the cycle. (fishless cycle) I was wondering during the next 4 weeks if i should run the protein skimmer or not.

 

[scapone]

I ran my skimmer what u have to do is test so you'll know when your cycle is over. I actually started with base rock and added a small live rock to get the cycle started

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[savage]

I would start the first week with it on just to break in the skimmer.. Then shut it off and add bacteria and let nature take its course ...

 

[Tonyscoots84]

+1

 

[fishman1069]

I personally think its a waste to run the skimmer in the beginning of a cycle. I usually wait till the nitrite begins to drop off and then I kick the skimmer on. Jmo

 

[basiab]

If you started with live rock then it may make a difference and you can argue it but in this case there will be nothing to skim.

 

[garys reef]

+100 there is nothing to skim i agree to let it run to break it in though

 

[thetman36]

filter socks

What about filter socks. Should i use them during the cycle

 

[jdnumis]

I would

What about filter socks. Should i use them during the cycle

that is your mechanical filter

 

[h2o]

I would go with no skimmer and no sock let it cycle just like that

 

[CoralMeister]

Run it.

Less Dissolved organics = More quantities of healthy bacteria

 

[CoralMeister]

Run it.

Less Dissolved organics = More quantities of healthy bacteria

 

[kimilkwon]

There is no reason to run the skimmer if the dry rock/sand is cured since there will be minimal die off. I am assuming this because u are adding ammonia source. You can turn it on after the first week to start breaking in the skimmer, if you are going to add fish as soon as ammonia and nitrites are 0. if you are continuing to dose ammonia, no need for the skimmer. Need to have the bacteria settle out of the water column which is 4-7 days.

 

[nyguardian21]

Run it from the beginning if its a new skimmer to get it broken in...

 

[thetman36]

here are my readings after 5 weeks of cycle
KH 11.5 Alkalinity in Meq/L 4.10
Nitrate .5
PH 8
Nitrite .1
Phosphate .25
Ammonia 0

last week my ammonia was at .5
nitrate last week was the same level
i used DR Tim's one and only bacteria from the start i have not seen spikes in any readings. How do i know when my cycle is over. like i said it has been 5 weeks. I decided not to dose ammonia but rather use the bacteria and use fish to do the cycle all my levels have been the same throughout the 5 weeks. I did notice a small increase in nitrate it started at 0 now it's .5

 

[thetman36]

i made a mistake it has only been 3 weeks that the cycle has been running

 

[thetman36]

skimmer update

I let the cycle go the first few days with no skimmer then only turned it on a few min a day to keep the water from getting fowl inside the skimmer. now I am on the 3rd week of the cycle and I turned on the skimmer full time because I was getting foam inside my sump where the water comes in from the overflows. the foam was getting excessive so I felt the skimmer was needed. I was correct less then 15 min of running the skimmer the foam is gone. socks are clean but I was getting gunk build up from the foam and i notice an oil like film on the surface of the water in the middle section of my sump. Any ideas of what this is and how to remove it?

 

[nyguardian21]

I read somwhere that the oil can be from our arms when we put them in the tank to move things around. Probably got skimmed from the tank into the sump. I have seen it in my sump and havent paid much mind to it...