Can I do this...

OK here's the deal. I have a 20gal SW tank with a Via Aqua Multi-Skimmer in
my bedroom (small apt). It's still in its cycling phase, but I plan to
eventually add 2 maybe 3 small fish, some coral, and possibly an anemome. Oh
and a cleaning crew. Anyways, my question is this. The Multi-Skimmer is one
loud @ss skimmer/pump that doesn't let me sleep. Would it be ok if I were to
turn it off for a period of 6-8 hours during the night and instead run an
air pump with an airstone in the tank? This would probably only be for
3-4nights a week. Oh and there will be some circulation inside the tank by a
pump thats in there. I hope you all say yes, if not I'll probably do it
anyways It just won't let me sleep and I've thought once or twice about
gettin rid of it. But I would like to keep it, it is just a nice little
setup. Anyways, your opinions would be great.

Oh also, my tank has been cycling for 2 weeks now and there's still no algae
growth and the levels are still high. What gives? Do I gotta wait a little
longer?

J.

OK here's the deal. I have a 20gal SW tank with a Via Aqua Multi-Skimmer in
my bedroom (small apt). It's still in its cycling phase, but I plan to
eventually add 2 maybe 3 small fish, some coral, and possibly an anemome. Oh
and a cleaning crew. Anyways, my question is this. The Multi-Skimmer is one
loud @ss skimmer/pump that doesn't let me sleep. Would it be ok if I were to
turn it off for a period of 6-8 hours during the night and instead run an
air pump with an airstone in the tank? This would probably only be for
3-4nights a week. Oh and there will be some circulation inside the tank by a
pump thats in there. I hope you all say yes, if not I'll probably do it
anyways It just won't let me sleep and I've thought once or twice about
gettin rid of it. But I would like to keep it, it is just a nice little
setup. Anyways, your opinions would be great.

as for turing off the skimmer yep itll work fine, skip the air stone though, especially at
night.

Oh also, my tank has been cycling for 2 weeks now and there's still no algae
growth and the levels are still high. What gives? Do I gotta wait a little
longer?

which levels are a high and how high is high, however generally 2 weeks is NOT long
enough, 4 is kinda minimum

J.



--
Richard Reynolds

No airstone? What about oxygen? There wouldn't be any other way for the
tank to get oxygen.

The levels a
Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 15ppm
pH - 8.2



"Richard Reynolds" wrote in message
news:dzMMb.9504$ct4.3051@lakeread05...
OK here's the deal. I have a 20gal SW tank with a Via Aqua Multi-Skimmer
in
my bedroom (small apt). It's still in its cycling phase, but I plan to
eventually add 2 maybe 3 small fish, some coral, and possibly an
anemome. Oh
and a cleaning crew. Anyways, my question is this. The Multi-Skimmer is
one
loud @ss skimmer/pump that doesn't let me sleep. Would it be ok if I
were to
turn it off for a period of 6-8 hours during the night and instead run
an
air pump with an airstone in the tank? This would probably only be for
3-4nights a week. Oh and there will be some circulation inside the tank
by a
pump thats in there. I hope you all say yes, if not I'll probably do it
anyways It just won't let me sleep and I've thought once or twice about
gettin rid of it. But I would like to keep it, it is just a nice little
setup. Anyways, your opinions would be great.

as for turing off the skimmer yep itll work fine, skip the air stone
though, especially at
night.

Oh also, my tank has been cycling for 2 weeks now and there's still no
algae
growth and the levels are still high. What gives? Do I gotta wait a
little
longer?

which levels are a high and how high is high, however generally 2 weeks is
NOT long
enough, 4 is kinda minimum

J.



--
Richard Reynolds

turning the skimmer off is fine,running the stone is fine.the water
parameters will stabalize after 6-8 weeks .are you using some kind of
biological starter?


--
jpg

jay the reef keeper
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Yeah, Cycle. Is it too early to add a cleaning crew?


"jpg" wrote in message
...

turning the skimmer off is fine,running the stone is fine.the water
parameters will stabalize after 6-8 weeks .are you using some kind of
biological starter?


--
jpg

jay the reef keeper
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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http://www.reef-chat.com/forum/membe...info&userid=11
View this thread:
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On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 14:25:35 GMT, "J.S." wrote:

No airstone? What about oxygen? There wouldn't be any other way for the
tank to get oxygen.

Surface agitation should be sufficient. Airstones don't magically pump
O2 into the water, and while I'm no expert, I don't think they are all
that efficient.

Every well matured salt water tank I've seen is just fine without that
ugly stream of unnatural bubbles

No airstone? What about oxygen? There wouldn't be any other way for the
tank to get oxygen.

you only need to use airstones if you are significantly overstocked, something that YOU
ARE NOT GOING TO DO (HINT!!!!) the water movement from a surface level or higher return is
plenty.

The levels a
Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 15ppm
pH - 8.2

I wouldnt add anything until ammonia drops even more so to cleaning crew

--
Richard Reynolds

Looks like you're just getting started with the ammonia spikes. Next will
come the nitrite spikes. 4 weeks, possibly more for the nitrogen cycle to
complete. I did a tank one time with live rock and dry sand. I set it up,
turned off the lights and ignored it for a month. At the end of the month it
was all set.

Patience is big thing in this hobby as frustrating as that can be.

"J.S." wrote in message
...
No airstone? What about oxygen? There wouldn't be any other way for the
tank to get oxygen.

The levels a
Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 15ppm
pH - 8.2



"Richard Reynolds" wrote in message
news:dzMMb.9504$ct4.3051@lakeread05...
OK here's the deal. I have a 20gal SW tank with a Via Aqua
Multi-Skimmer
in
my bedroom (small apt). It's still in its cycling phase, but I plan to
eventually add 2 maybe 3 small fish, some coral, and possibly an
anemome. Oh
and a cleaning crew. Anyways, my question is this. The Multi-Skimmer is
one
loud @ss skimmer/pump that doesn't let me sleep. Would it be ok if I
were to
turn it off for a period of 6-8 hours during the night and instead run
an
air pump with an airstone in the tank? This would probably only be for
3-4nights a week. Oh and there will be some circulation inside the tank
by a
pump thats in there. I hope you all say yes, if not I'll probably do it
anyways It just won't let me sleep and I've thought once or twice
about
gettin rid of it. But I would like to keep it, it is just a nice little
setup. Anyways, your opinions would be great.

as for turing off the skimmer yep itll work fine, skip the air stone
though, especially at
night.

Oh also, my tank has been cycling for 2 weeks now and there's still no
algae
growth and the levels are still high. What gives? Do I gotta wait a
little
longer?

which levels are a high and how high is high, however generally 2 weeks
is
NOT long
enough, 4 is kinda minimum

J.



--
Richard Reynolds

"Ray Martini" wrote in message
...
| "J.S." wrote in message
| ...
| No airstone? What about oxygen? There wouldn't be any other way
for the
| tank to get oxygen.


Coming into this thread late, but I wanted to point out something.
Airstones are NOT *the* source of oxygen for your fish, at least, not
precisely. Air\water contact is the source of oxygen. A powerfilter
stiring up the water at it's outflow is a way to do this. A powerhead
pointed upward breaking the surface tension is another. Sump overflow
constantly changing out the surface is another. An airstone will do
this as well, but it's not the end-all.