Using A Protein Skimmer During the Cycle

[Rick]

Is it ok to use a protien skimmer during the cycle of a new tank?

Any one have any experience doing this?

[Richard Reynolds]

> Is it ok to use a protien skimmer during the cycle of a new tank?

yes a good thing to do.

> Any one have any experience doing this?

many


--
Richard Reynolds

[Ross Bagley]

(Rick) writes:

> Is it ok to use a protien skimmer during the cycle of a new tank?

Sure. If there's not enough decomposing material on the rock, the
skimmer will slow progress of the cycle by removing decomposing stuff
from the water column, but if the water is cloudy after a few weeks
and/or if you're already seeing the usual algae blooms come and go,
the skimmer isn't going to hurt anything and will probably make the
tank a lot more pleasant to look at during the day.

> Any one have any experience doing this?

A big skimmer running 24/7 on a little tank may cause a cycle to take
longer (6-8 weeks instead of 3-6), but you're almost certainly not
going to hurt anything by turning it on if that's what you want.

Two questions: Why do you ask? and What do your tests look like?

Regards,
Ross

-- Ross Bagley http://rossbagley.com/rba
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature...
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -- Helen Keller

[Rick]

You wrote
> Two questions: Why do you ask? and What do your tests look like?

1.I have asked alot of sales people at LFS with different answers.
Taking my own pool I guess, anyway I set one up and it collects DOC
daily


2.a.Ammonia droped to zero 10 days ago

b.Nitrite has not droped to zero- I do belive the Protein Skimmer
maybe slowing down the cycle process

c.PH normal-KH 9-10


d..If nitrites dont drop soon should I do a partial water change or
just let the cycle continue?

Rick

> Regards,
> Ross
>
> -- Ross Bagley http://rossbagley.com/rba
> "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature...
> Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -- Helen Keller

[Ross Bagley]

(Rick) writes:

> You wrote
> > Two questions: Why do you ask? and What do your tests look like?
>
> 1.I have asked alot of sales people at LFS with different answers.

Heh. I stopped expecting good advice from someone who's trying to
sell me something a little while back. LFS employees have a pretty
big conflict of interest in answering your questions.

If you do happen to find a store with honest employees (this involves
pre-researched test questions), give them lots of business. It means
that the owner has made a company culture where honesty is going to be
more important than a quick buck. This is a store where you can trust
their descriptions of livestock condition and handling, shelf life of
products, usefulness of products.

These stores do actually exist, but they're the veritable "diamond in
the rough" so you'll have to keep looking until you find one near you.

> Taking my own pool I guess, anyway I set one up and it collects DOC
> daily

You certainly aren't hurting anything.

> 2.a.Ammonia droped to zero 10 days ago
>
> b.Nitrite has not droped to zero- I do belive the Protein Skimmer
> maybe slowing down the cycle process
>
> c.PH normal-KH 9-10
>
> d..If nitrites dont drop soon should I do a partial water change or
> just let the cycle continue?

Sounds like things are headed in the right direction. I'd just let it
go the way its going. If the nitrites stay at the same low level for
more than a week, verify the measurement with a different test kit
(friend, other member of local club, $$, etc.). It may be a false
reading.

Remember: patience is the primary virtue of the successful aquarist.
In aquariums, good things happen on time scales of weeks and months.
Only bad things happen in days and hours.

Regards,
Ross

-- Ross Bagley http://rossbagley.com/rba
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature...
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -- Helen Keller

[Rick]

THANKS for the info Ross, You have a very good way of explaining
things in a simple way- Yes I agree- good things happen on time
scales of weeks and months.
Only bad things happen in days and hours.

This is why I have not done a partial water change- My Tang and
Triger are very active and always eating. IS leaving Romaine lettus
in the tank all the time considered over feeding? I have been keeping
it in the tank for a week now all the time with no changes in the
ammonia level. I'm not sure vegatation should affect

THANKS FOR YOU HELP

F.Y.I Nitries still high no change

I did get a new test kit same results

I also have a high level of Nitrates with high level reading of
Nitrites IS THIS POSSIBLE- I thought you would not get Nitrate
readings untill the nitrite levels droped.

[Ross Bagley]

(Rick) writes:

> F.Y.I Nitries still high no change
>
> I did get a new test kit same results

Well, then the reading is almost certainly accurate.

> I also have a high level of Nitrates with high level reading of
> Nitrites IS THIS POSSIBLE- I thought you would not get Nitrate
> readings untill the nitrite levels droped.

Nitrates normally begin to rise when nitrites begin to fall but if
the load goes up (new fish/new live rock) in mid cycle, the tank
chemistry will be a little odd looking.

Normally, you would like to put a few tough fish or some live rock in
the tank and let it sit until cycling was complete and the tank
stabilized. From your remarks about your new fish I'm guessing that
you haven't done this and as a result, your cycle is somewhat atypical.

If you already have a high level of nitrates, then I would do a fairly
large water change followed by normal biweekly or monthly water
changes based on where nitrates go and how good your skimmer is.

I wouldn't add anything more to the tank (except food) until the
nitrites go completely to zero. This could take a while. Be patient.

Also, investigate nori instead of Romaine lettuce. We don't know how
good lettuce is for marine herbivores, we know nori is great for them.
Finally, it's possible that you're overfeeding a little, but don't
change too much of what you're doing based on my long-distance
comments. Think about it and if you can feed less without making your
fish go hungry, give it a shot.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/foodcare/a/aa110902.htm

Regards,
Ross

-- Ross Bagley http://rossbagley.com/rba
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature...
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -- Helen Keller

[Richard Reynolds]

> I have been keeping
> it in the tank for a week now all the time with no changes in the
> ammonia level. I'm not sure vegatation should affect
what ever is not eaten in 1 day needs to be removed. your vegatation is not alive
anymore, it will pollute your tank

> F.Y.I Nitries still high no change
> I did get a new test kit same results

wouldnt really sweat this, but which kits are you using for nitrite/nitrate

> I also have a high level of Nitrates with high level reading of
> Nitrites IS THIS POSSIBLE- I thought you would not get Nitrate
> readings untill the nitrite levels droped.

not only is it possible but with many kits nitrites mess up the nitrate kits, some more
than others.


--
Richard Reynolds

[Rick]

"Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message news:<5Cf4c.15308$PY.5920@lakeread05>...
> > I have been keeping
> > it in the tank for a week now all the time with no changes in the
> > ammonia level. I'm not sure vegatation should affect
> what ever is not eaten in 1 day needs to be removed. your vegatation is not alive
> anymore, it will pollute your tank

While the Ammonia did drop to zero levels!!!

>
> > F.Y.I Nitries still high no change
> > I did get a new test kit same results
>
> wouldnt really sweat this, but which kits are you using for nitrite/nitrate

Using a Tetra, Only because that is what was available from a LFS.
If you have a suggestion for a better one, I will get one.


I did a partial water change and the Nitrite droped to a safe level or
should I say a safer level,

Nitrate level is also lower

Thinking of doing another water change? I think if I do a 50% water
change the levels will be safe.




>
> > I also have a high level of Nitrates with high level reading of
> > Nitrites IS THIS POSSIBLE- I thought you would not get Nitrate
> > readings untill the nitrite levels droped.
>
> not only is it possible but with many kits nitrites mess up the nitrate kits, some more
> than others.

[Richard Reynolds]

> > > I have been keeping
> > > it in the tank for a week now all the time with no changes in the
> > > ammonia level. I'm not sure vegatation should affect
> > what ever is not eaten in 1 day needs to be removed. your vegatation is not alive
> > anymore, it will pollute your tank
>
> While the Ammonia did drop to zero levels!!!

yes, as it should have by now, the decaying vegatation turns from ammonia to nitrite
quickly because that part of your cycle is over. but it is still polluting your tank after
a day or so.

> > > F.Y.I Nitries still high no change
> > > I did get a new test kit same results
> >
> > wouldnt really sweat this, but which kits are you using for nitrite/nitrate
>
> Using a Tetra, Only because that is what was available from a LFS.
> If you have a suggestion for a better one, I will get one.

silly fart!!!

:D :D hehe its really salifert, I would keep the tetra kits there not that aweful, but
when you need more get salifert, online will have the best prices usually.

> I did a partial water change and the Nitrite droped to a safe level or
> should I say a safer level,

> Nitrate level is also lower
>
> Thinking of doing another water change? I think if I do a 50% water
> change the levels will be safe.

unless you actually have a numeric value for your nitrites, pH, alk .... id skip the
waterchanges, there not important now. once nitrites hit 0 then do your next waterchange.



--
Richard Reynolds