Do you guys skim during the initial cycle?

joem1cha3l · 07/03/2012, 04:43 AM

Thoughts? Ive got about 85% dead rock and 15% live rock to seed. Im in day 6 of the cycle and was curious if I should buy a nano skimmer (12 gallon long tank) to skim during the approx. 6 week cycle?

csm41 · 07/03/2012, 06:47 AM

Yes, I do. In fact, I am doing so now on the 56 cube I just set up.

THS · 07/03/2012, 06:55 AM

I don't, because I believe that removing waste before they break down into ammonia will slow the cycle. However, I also think that starting to skim after the cycle will restrict the amount of ammonia for the bacteria, which may cause a lag phase in their replication, or even bacterial die-off.

I think it's an issue with two sides, and I think it may be hard to prove which method is more efficient.

Just my .02

zigzag1 · 07/03/2012, 07:48 AM

yes..

Donkeykong · 07/03/2012, 08:01 AM

I have done with an without and saw no noticeable difference in cycle length. This is not saying I took a scientific approach and got to exact same size aquariums and the same amount of live rock for each and closely monitered and recorded al the levels accordingly, I haev simply setup many tanks and have not noticed much of a difference based on whether I was skimming or not. I usually do at this point because I figure it is pulling gunk out and increasing air content in the water which both help to minimize die off of live rock. This also give the skimmer, if new, time to break in and you can dial it in.

allsps40 · 07/03/2012, 08:16 AM

I always have skimmed for the minute salt water goes into a new tank.

juice79 · 07/03/2012, 09:28 AM

I skimmed from day 1 as well.

csm41 · 07/03/2012, 01:46 PM

I usually start skimming after the new live rock has been in the tank for a couple weeks.

EthanKyle · 07/03/2012, 06:57 PM

If you don't skim, be prepared for the stench.

Nanook · 07/03/2012, 07:46 PM

I'm a skimmer from the time the rock hits the water.

EricSIny · 07/03/2012, 08:09 PM

I usually wait a month before skimming and let all that good stuff build up before I start stripping the water of stuff. Don't know why but it's just what I do and it works for me.

REEFCANDY · 07/03/2012, 09:41 PM

i also skim for the day 1 i start.

Mmiller40gt · 07/04/2012, 01:54 AM

Saltwater does not hold oxygen well. Bacteria needs oxygen. I run the skimmer from day one to oxygenate the water and occasionally dump the skim back into the live rock vat

Bluewater04 · 07/04/2012, 10:26 AM

Once the return pump is plugged in so is the skimmer

07/03/2012, 04:43 AM	#1
joem1cha3l Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,158	Do you guys skim during the initial cycle? Thoughts? Ive got about 85% dead rock and 15% live rock to seed. Im in day 6 of the cycle and was curious if I should buy a nano skimmer (12 gallon long tank) to skim during the approx. 6 week cycle? __________________ IM10G Nano - MP10, AI Nano, RKL

07/03/2012, 06:55 AM	#3
THS Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Louisiana Posts: 160	I don't, because I believe that removing waste before they break down into ammonia will slow the cycle. However, I also think that starting to skim after the cycle will restrict the amount of ammonia for the bacteria, which may cause a lag phase in their replication, or even bacterial die-off. I think it's an issue with two sides, and I think it may be hard to prove which method is more efficient. Just my .02 __________________ -Taylor Shank Current Tank Info: 29g Pre-Reef

07/03/2012, 07:48 AM	#4
zigzag1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Anderson, Indiana Posts: 1,276	yes.. __________________ :beer: Mixed Reef, started 10/2004: 6' BB 125g DT, 100lbs LR, 40g sump, Dual Ehiem 1000 returns, Eshopps dual overflow, JBJ ATO, Vertex IN-180, PM Ca reactor, 250w MH w/VHO Actinic, AC3 w/Aquasurf, Tunze 6105 pair & 40B frag tank 8 Fish, 20+ corals, shrimp, snails, worms, bugs, etc.

07/03/2012, 08:16 AM	#6
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	I always have skimmed for the minute salt water goes into a new tank. __________________ __________ Current Tank Info: Past reef tanks: 20H softy, 29G mixed reef, 55G mixed reef, 40B sps dominant mixed reef and 75G sps dominant mixed reef. No tank currently

07/03/2012, 07:46 PM	#10
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	I'm a skimmer from the time the rock hits the water. __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef

07/03/2012, 06:47 AM	#2
csm41 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 75	Yes, I do. In fact, I am doing so now on the 56 cube I just set up.

07/03/2012, 08:01 AM	#5
Donkeykong Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grover Beach CA Posts: 1,847	I have done with an without and saw no noticeable difference in cycle length. This is not saying I took a scientific approach and got to exact same size aquariums and the same amount of live rock for each and closely monitered and recorded al the levels accordingly, I haev simply setup many tanks and have not noticed much of a difference based on whether I was skimming or not. I usually do at this point because I figure it is pulling gunk out and increasing air content in the water which both help to minimize die off of live rock. This also give the skimmer, if new, time to break in and you can dial it in.

07/03/2012, 09:28 AM	#7
juice79 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 297	I skimmed from day 1 as well.

07/03/2012, 01:46 PM	#8
csm41 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 75	I usually start skimming after the new live rock has been in the tank for a couple weeks.

07/03/2012, 06:57 PM	#9
EthanKyle Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 163	If you don't skim, be prepared for the stench.

07/03/2012, 08:09 PM	#11
EricSIny Moved On Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 440	I usually wait a month before skimming and let all that good stuff build up before I start stripping the water of stuff. Don't know why but it's just what I do and it works for me.

07/03/2012, 09:41 PM	#12
REEFCANDY Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 60	i also skim for the day 1 i start.

07/04/2012, 01:54 AM	#13
Mmiller40gt arrogant reefer Join Date: May 2012 Location: N Texas Posts: 687	Saltwater does not hold oxygen well. Bacteria needs oxygen. I run the skimmer from day one to oxygenate the water and occasionally dump the skim back into the live rock vat

07/04/2012, 10:26 AM	#14
Bluewater04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ohio Posts: 74	Once the return pump is plugged in so is the skimmer