Should I be running a protein skimmer on a startup tank?
- Thread starter vinny
- Start date
dilligaf29
Well-Known Member
no skimmer no carbon
are u addiing fish also with the bio s ive used it before it works best when added with fish if not most of bacteria dies fast in the tank with nothing to eat
are u addiing fish also with the bio s ive used it before it works best when added with fish if not most of bacteria dies fast in the tank with nothing to eat
dilligaf29
Well-Known Member
is the bio s u are adding the instant ocean one
STiTCH87
Saltwater OCD Victim
No need to run a skimmer on something without a bioload, however it won't hurt either if you wanted to.
But please, don't cycle a new tank with fish like some recommend. This isn't 1985, we have dozens of better and less cruel methods of cycling a tank, like adding beneficial bacteria (though some say it's just snake oil).
Either way, the best/easiest way to cycle a tank is to add ammonia and then test a few times a week until all ammonia and nitrites read zero and there's a nitrate reading, then do a waterchange to drop nitrates to a safe level and you're good to go.
So to answer your question specifically, no you don't have to run a protein skimmer yet, but yes, you can.
But please, don't cycle a new tank with fish like some recommend. This isn't 1985, we have dozens of better and less cruel methods of cycling a tank, like adding beneficial bacteria (though some say it's just snake oil).
Either way, the best/easiest way to cycle a tank is to add ammonia and then test a few times a week until all ammonia and nitrites read zero and there's a nitrate reading, then do a waterchange to drop nitrates to a safe level and you're good to go.
So to answer your question specifically, no you don't have to run a protein skimmer yet, but yes, you can.
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vinny
Well-Known Member
It's made by Aquaforest I picked up there salt and the Bio S at Love The Reef. The directions say one drop a day for 14 days. I'm not in any rush, it's taking me about a year to get this tank all to together and running and if I have to wait a few more weeks before adding fish then that's what it takes.
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vinny
Well-Known Member
The skimmer is not a big deal really it's just something I threw together using water bottles,and air pump and a wooden lime stone which I found out are very hard to find . I made one years ago for my 10 gallon reef with very good success. This one is just as good and it's just something that I can put in my Emperor 400 filter. I can post a picture later
