When cycling tank .. wad r the things to do?

[Firestarz]

Hi bros n sis.

I hav juz started cycling my tank.its in the forth da, n i hav some questions to ask.

1. Should i on my skimmer while cycling is on-going? .. currently its switched on.

2. Must i switch on my lights? if yes, how many hrs a day?

3. Is there a need to do water change during cycling? if yes, change how much of the water n wad is the time interval between each water change. I m using a 24" by 15" by 15" tank, abt 90L. BTW my sandbed is 4" high.

4. is there a certain temperature range? .. my tank is currently at 27+ degrees. with chiller, so if tempt need not b so low, i might consider not running my chiller for de time being.

I m planning to cycle for a month b4 adding anything.

[nakazoru]

I will do this:

1. No skimmer.

2. Normal light cycle, to exhaust PO4, no lights also okay.

3. No Water Change.

4. Temp not important for now, things are dying in there so no worries.

[Firestarz]

Hmm .. okies ..

Yea .. i think i will b switching off my skimmer soon .. but will turn it on for a while to clear off all de surface dirt .. as the only surface skimmer in my tank is at the intake to teh skimmer ..

Thanks for the info. Was a little confused earlier on.

bro!

[Tanga]

Bro u using canister or sump anyway these must be running IMO

[wil_lee76]

remember to check ur water parameters with reliable test kits. DONT ever dump a fish to test water.....!

[Firestarz]

bro Tanga : I m currently using canistor .. yea .. its running 24/7.

bro wil_lee76 : John at aqua marine offered to do the water test for me after 3 weeks. He asked me to bring a sample of the tank water down in 3 weeks n he will do the testing for me .. Really nice guy!

Currently i hav the on glass ammonia alert thing so i can see when the ammonia spike comes, at least i know the tank is in the process of cycling.

Hav to agree that using a fish to test if the water is ready is TOTALLY WRONG! It juz doesnt do the fish any justice at all.

[d88p]

learned from mistakes...... never be impatient. Cycle the tank longer a period, the better it would be

[Firestarz]

Hmm .. yea .. was thinking of using 1 month .. but since aquamarine offered to d a test after 3 weeks, i will see how it goes .. currently in its 5th day.

guys!

[wil_lee76]

Hmm .. yea .. was thinking of using 1 month .. but since aquamarine offered to d a test after 3 weeks, i will see how it goes .. currently in its 5th day.

guys!

coolz...rem, be good boy hor, be really really patiences...

And it best to get a basic set of test kit at home...

[Firestarz]

Hmm .. currently dun hav any test kits .. will get them when i visit aquamarine in 3 weeks ..

Haha .. yup will do my best to b a good boy, although all those corals in the pasar malam section r making my mouth water ..

[d88p]

Hmm .. yea .. was thinking of using 1 month .. but since aquamarine offered to d a test after 3 weeks, i will see how it goes .. currently in its 5th day.

guys!

its only the beginning of the wait n wait n wait n wait .. dont rush into it.......... even making baby also not so easy

[Firestarz]

Haha! Thanks for de advise guys. Will b sure to follow it .. I hope ..

[d88p]

Haha! Thanks for de advise guys. Will b sure to follow it .. I hope ..

i didnt and i regretted

[Firestarz]

i m not abt to dig my own grave .. now into its second week alrdy .. Yay! .. the days r passing fast!

[d88p]

patience my friend .... .... althought its another few weeks more

[Firestarz]

Haha! .. yea .. still hav a few weeks to go .. the ammonia cycle juz finished btw.

Thanks bro deep!

[d88p]

i was impatient, and i still am

[Firestarz]

Lol !

[jervismun]

Firestartz: Now I know where u got your "Be Patience" advice from, lol.

But something very funny happen to my tank. I don't think it is cycling normally as the ammonia hike and nitrite hike just passed by so quickly. I will start a new thread to find out why... link down at my signature.

[Firestarz]

Hmm .. personally i think it shldnt b a problem cos ur rocks r taken from a fellow reefer n should alrdy b hosting these bacteria n thus resulting in the ammonia n nitrite hike to pass quickly.

YEa .. but if ur worried its always good to leave it alone for a week or less more n see how it turns out to b .. b4 adding LS.

[jervismun]

That's what I thought, thanks!

[wil_lee76]

personally, let u tank cycle even the period is over...just make sure (Kiasu) a bit more....go for few weeks more after the period...trust me...u will not regret...but just curious, any sump or cannister u using dude?

[jervismun]

Nope, just an internal filter. Click on my signature link to learn more about my setup. Yes I will wait 1 - 2 weeks more. Algae is starting to appear on my LR, I desperately need some hardworking cleaning ah-soh. Will make sure I achieve the 3 zeros before I stock.

[d88p]

during the cycle period, i didnt even hook up the light till about the 5th week

[jervismun]

I am thinking of adding some biohome to the back compartments, what you guys think? Will it help with the breaking down of Nitrates? I am having high Nitrates these 2 days.