question on timers/lighting/pumps

[kmanuel4]

So I am about to clean and cycle my 55 gal. Im going Very slow(talking water and sand to start)

Do I need a pump and protein skimmer to cycle?

Do I need a sump? (I currently have a 55gal freshwater not drilled, no sump)

Im also looking into timers and wondering how long do you leave lights/circulators/pumps on? Do u leave skimmers on 24/7? ::

I read 12 hours for lights?

Just all the timers have like 3-4 things you can turn on and off and didnt think more then lights needed a timer. thanks

 

[Marshall O]

You can run the skimmer 24/7. I would get your sump going now while the tank is cycling before you add any livestock. You don't need the sump online or skimmer running during cycling. 11 hours is good for the light cycle, though anything 10-12 would be fine.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You don't need a skimmer to cycle but you do need some type of water movement so it isn't stagnant in there. Probably a powerhead as you'll need it for flow later anyways. If you're cycling, it is probably a good idea to have some rock in there - even if you're only doing dry rock. It will become live rock as you cycle. Though it is a good idea to add at least one piece of live rock, to get all the goodies to spread to the dry rock. Makes cycling easier.

You don't need a sump. If you are thinking you want one though, now is the time to add it, before you have to worry about moving your livestock around and emptying the tank and everything. And with a 55g, if you do plan on drilling to add a sump make very sure it isn't tempered glass, a lot of 55g tanks have tempered sides (and it will shatter). You probably don't want to do a sump with a HOB overflow, those things are prone to failure.

If you're not doing a sump, and you are doing a protein skimmer - save your money and get a decent protein skimmer. Ask around - there are several quality brands. I like Reef Octopus. Don't buy junk like Prizms or Sea clones. Though you don't need it running while cycling, it is good to plan which one you will use and make sure you leave enough clearance behind the tank to add it on later (full tanks are so much less fun to move than empty ones...).

Should be just the lights you need on a timer.

 

[wpeterson]

Speaking from experience, I wish I had a reef ready (drilled with an overflow) tank. We've been running a nano reef with a HOB wet/dry filter for 6 months now, but having the tank drilled with a sump would have made a lot of things easier for us.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Have you looked into a glass-holes overflow? Can add onto pretty much any existing non-tempered tank. Assuming you have a place for a sump. Glass-holes.com