Everything needed before cycling.

[curt boswell]

I have my DT, Sump/Refugium, QT, Ro/Di system, Protien skimmer, and Return pump. Can some one give me a list of everything else I need before cycling my tank?

[brad87us]

That sounds good. Do you have the rock and sand you'll be putting in your tank? When your cycling you can leave your skimmer off. You want the tank to build up plenty of ammonia by ghost feeding or chemical additives.

[MrTuskfish]

You need a QT to acclimate new fish and prevent parasites from destroying all of your efforts.

[mlott132]

Don't forget test kits. Do you have any powerheads? What are you going to use to start your cycle deli shrimp, pure ammonia, or flake food? Finally, patients. Good luck and congrats on getting water in your tank.

[cloak]

A quality heater and a reliable thermometer are a couple other things you'll need. Perhaps an ATO as well.

[VectorAKA]

5gal buckets, A pitcher or automatic siphon hose...and as mentioned above..test kit...only need one for Ammonia, Nitrite, Ph, Nitrates in the beginning process to keep track of your cycle....just a few things I can think of b4 you start.

[curt boswell]

Any suggetions on heaters, thermometers and test kits?

[mlott132]

I used an API marine master test kit. It came with tests for pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

[on the spot]

Originally Posted by curt boswell

Can some one give me a list of everything else I need before cycling my tank?

Really you don't need anything else to start growing your bacteria. I'd get that started while securing what you need to keep fish. Bacteria will grow just fine as is.

[curt boswell]

will I need my lights on during cycling?

[mlott132]

Some do some don't. Most do not because they are trying to reduce the algae outbreak. I ran mine during the cycle and did not have that bad of an algae problem. Either way you are going to get algae so I figured why not get it over with.

[sponger0]

I agree with running lights. People say not to run them during the cycle cause of algae outbreaks, but fact is you are going to run into some sort of algae bloom within the first 6 months, so keeping them off during the cycle isnt going to help much at all.

My recommendation of what you need:
Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate water test. Dont worry about pH or you will be chasing it all over the place

Heaters and powerheads

Lights. Might as well already have them

As for the skimmer, let it run. It takes time to break in and gives you a chance to become familiar with it.

An ATO will make your life so much easier. I beleive in anything you can automate is well worth it.

[curt boswell]

thanks! can i get a ATO later?because im tight on money.

[smaggard]

you can get an ATO at any point, it just makes life easier, it took me 3.5 years to finally set one up. If you do however decide not to use one you will need to make sure and check the water levels often to until you are used to how much evaporation you will have. As for bacteria, as on the spot said, once you put in the live rock and sand you don't need anything else, the die off from the rock will get the nitrogen cycle started.

As for lights I find that is a personal preference, unless you have a totaly dark room any stray sunlight is going to help your first algae bloom anyway, so whether you run them or not is up to you.

Good luck and welcome to a fun hobby.

[curt boswell]

Ok thanks!

[on the spot]

Originally Posted by curt boswell

thanks! can i get a ATO later?because im tight on money.

A cheap alternative to an ATO is a simple float valve mounted in the sump - in the return pump section. For 25 bucks in parts you can keep your tank water @ a consistent level.

For a few dollars more you can add a DIY kalk reactor. The cheap version doesn't even need a pump, you just flip it over a few times to mix the lime.