Can you do this while cycling???

Eliz · 12/03/2006, 02:09 PM

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!!

I would like to run purigen and chemi pure in the chambers of my auqapod 12g. Can you run these while cycling or should I put them in after the cycle?

Any advise welcome

TekCat · 12/03/2006, 02:21 PM

The purpose of cycling is to build up bacteria population by providing high content of ammonia in tank. Purigen removes ammonia so, it is kinda counterproductive to add source of ammonia and ammonia removal at the same time.

However after cycle completes, your rocks and sand (if you have any) will house a hefty number of nitrifying bacteria, then you do huge water change to export products of nitrification - mainly nitrates. Then you may use Purigen as an insurance against unexpected ammonia spikes. (that's what I did).

But! If you cycling while curing rocks at the same time, then rocks will generate (actually dying off things) lots of ammonia and other nasty things. In this case, to keep as much life things on rocks as possible, you may intervine cycling with water changes, skimming, running carbon, etc.... .... another thought, since you have only 12 gallon tank, instead of getting into chemical filtration you may just get by with simple water changes, lets say when your ammonia gets higher to 0.5 ppm, do 50% (6g ) water change.

good luck and Reef ON!!!

zmovegolf · 12/03/2006, 02:30 PM

I think you would be better off waiting and doing water changes while cycling.

Eliz · 12/03/2006, 02:31 PM

So is it better using cured rock instead of uncured to start up a new tank?

What is the pros and cons to each?

I just want to make sure I get all the information possible before hand! I have read alot but every book or person as a different aproach on things.

TekCat · 12/03/2006, 03:08 PM

I should have asked this before, do you have LR already in? How much? cured or uncured? Any sand there?

If you haven't setup anything just yet, then there:
cured LR - less cycling time, less life on it.
uncured LR - more die off (longer cycling), more hitchikers (some could be bad ones)

IMHO, it is better to cure rocks outside of tank, you may cure it in tank also, but hold on putting any sand until rocks are cured completely. When I dove into the hobby I cured rocks on top of sand in my tank, junk and dead things fell from rocks on the sand, and some got trapped in (later I had cyano lasted until I tore the tank down). With bare bottom tank or bucket it is very easy to syphon junk off the bottom.

So, lets assume you get uncured LR and cure it in separate tub. Here is what you do:
1) scrub dead things (that you 100% sure that they are dead) off the rocks with a toothbrush (use new brush).
2) have lots of flow in tub, keep salinity and temperature stable
3) ocasionally perform water changes or when ammonia gets higher than 0.5ppm
4) during water changes remove fallen junk off the rocks, examine rocks for dying off things and scrub them off (as in step 1). also, it is good idea to use turkey baster to blow off junk trapped inside rock's pores/holes.
5) during rock's inspection and looking at what's in tub you might see some hitchikers, try to identify them, and remove undesirable ones.
6) when ammonia and nitrites drop to zero transfer rocks to tank with matching salinity and temperature.
7) after done with aquascaping, pour sand (if you wish to have sand) around rocks. Do not use curshed coral, it is going to trap detrius.
8) wait a few weeks making sure that ammonia and nitrites still at zero before adding any life form.

hope this helps

Eliz · 12/03/2006, 03:24 PM

I have not done anything yet. I am trying to get as much information before doing so.

This does help a bunch! Thank you for taking the time out to help me.

TekCat · 12/03/2006, 03:35 PM

you're welcome

Get as much info as possible, formulate plan, and then DO IT!

Reef ON!!!!

P.S. Since you have relatively small tank, you might want to check out "Nano" forum.

12/03/2006, 02:09 PM	#1
Eliz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Savannah GA Posts: 178	Can you do this while cycling??? RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!! I would like to run purigen and chemi pure in the chambers of my auqapod 12g. Can you run these while cycling or should I put them in after the cycle? Any advise welcome

12/03/2006, 02:21 PM	#2
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	The purpose of cycling is to build up bacteria population by providing high content of ammonia in tank. Purigen removes ammonia so, it is kinda counterproductive to add source of ammonia and ammonia removal at the same time. However after cycle completes, your rocks and sand (if you have any) will house a hefty number of nitrifying bacteria, then you do huge water change to export products of nitrification - mainly nitrates. Then you may use Purigen as an insurance against unexpected ammonia spikes. (that's what I did). But! If you cycling while curing rocks at the same time, then rocks will generate (actually dying off things) lots of ammonia and other nasty things. In this case, to keep as much life things on rocks as possible, you may intervine cycling with water changes, skimming, running carbon, etc.... .... another thought, since you have only 12 gallon tank, instead of getting into chemical filtration you may just get by with simple water changes, lets say when your ammonia gets higher to 0.5 ppm, do 50% (6g ) water change. good luck and Reef ON!!!

12/03/2006, 02:30 PM	#3
zmovegolf Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 63	I think you would be better off waiting and doing water changes while cycling.

12/03/2006, 02:31 PM	#4
Eliz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Savannah GA Posts: 178	So is it better using cured rock instead of uncured to start up a new tank? What is the pros and cons to each? I just want to make sure I get all the information possible before hand! I have read alot but every book or person as a different aproach on things.

12/03/2006, 03:08 PM	#5
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	I should have asked this before, do you have LR already in? How much? cured or uncured? Any sand there? If you haven't setup anything just yet, then there: cured LR - less cycling time, less life on it. uncured LR - more die off (longer cycling), more hitchikers (some could be bad ones) IMHO, it is better to cure rocks outside of tank, you may cure it in tank also, but hold on putting any sand until rocks are cured completely. When I dove into the hobby I cured rocks on top of sand in my tank, junk and dead things fell from rocks on the sand, and some got trapped in (later I had cyano lasted until I tore the tank down). With bare bottom tank or bucket it is very easy to syphon junk off the bottom. So, lets assume you get uncured LR and cure it in separate tub. Here is what you do: 1) scrub dead things (that you 100% sure that they are dead) off the rocks with a toothbrush (use new brush). 2) have lots of flow in tub, keep salinity and temperature stable 3) ocasionally perform water changes or when ammonia gets higher than 0.5ppm 4) during water changes remove fallen junk off the rocks, examine rocks for dying off things and scrub them off (as in step 1). also, it is good idea to use turkey baster to blow off junk trapped inside rock's pores/holes. 5) during rock's inspection and looking at what's in tub you might see some hitchikers, try to identify them, and remove undesirable ones. 6) when ammonia and nitrites drop to zero transfer rocks to tank with matching salinity and temperature. 7) after done with aquascaping, pour sand (if you wish to have sand) around rocks. Do not use curshed coral, it is going to trap detrius. 8) wait a few weeks making sure that ammonia and nitrites still at zero before adding any life form. hope this helps

12/03/2006, 03:24 PM	#6
Eliz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Savannah GA Posts: 178	I have not done anything yet. I am trying to get as much information before doing so. This does help a bunch! Thank you for taking the time out to help me.

12/03/2006, 03:35 PM	#7
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	you're welcome Get as much info as possible, formulate plan, and then DO IT! Reef ON!!!! P.S. Since you have relatively small tank, you might want to check out "Nano" forum.