Cycling Question

[rl1oyd]

So when I get my live rock

I fill the tank half full with the salt water, (top it up when all the rocks in) should this all be Ro water or dichlorinated, I do have an ro unit so can use that to fill it will just take time as the tank is 720 litre

Put the either cured or uncured depending on what I end up with (think will be cured), in the tank.

Does the skimmer need to be on while the tank is cycling? Or just the power heads and heater?

Do the lights need to be on while the tank is cycling?

How many power heads will I need for a 720-litre tank? How should they be positioned? Any recommendations?

Asking as im going away on saturday for 2 weeks and it would be ideal if i could have the tank cycling while away, so im not sat looking at a tank full of rocks for too long

 

[kj23502]

Use R/O to have mixed saltwater ready when the LR arrives. You put the lr in freshwater, it'll be dead in the blink of an eye.

It's best to leave the skimmer off and let the tank cycle itself out or its best to leave it on to help the cycling process....lol my point is you'll hear both reasons. Most ppl on here will say leave it on. I'd personally leave it off and monitor ammonia levels. If your lr is cured you really shouldn't have much of a cycle anyway.

Lights need to be on if you have light loving organisms on the rock. Otherwise they'll die. 5 or so hours a day should be good.

have enough powerheads to total at least 20x tank turnover

 

[seffieuk]

So when I get my live rock

I fill the tank half full with the salt water, (top it up when all the rocks in) should this all be Ro water or dichlorinated, I do have an ro unit so can use that to fill it will just take time as the tank is 720 litre

unless you have a big ROunit i would buy the ro water from a good lfs but if you have the time to make your own, then that is obviously better as you know exactly what you are getting

Put the either cured or uncured depending on what I end up with (think will be cured), in the tank.

After bringing up to temp. and adding the salt

Does the skimmer need to be on while the tank is cycling? Or just the power heads and heater?

This really depends on the rock but i left mine on

Do the lights need to be on while the tank is cycling?

As Kj said, you will lose any light needy organisims if you dont, so this will lead to a bigger die off - however saying that the rock does not need light

How many power heads will I need for a 720-litre tank? How should they be positioned? Any recommendations?

720 x 20 (at the least) = 14400 it is really depending on what sort of powerheads you want to buy, say koralia, tunze, polario, mp40 and the money you want to pay

Asking as im going away on saturday for 2 weeks and it would be ideal if i could have the tank cycling while away, so im not sat looking at a tank full of rocks for too long

Ah you under-estimate how much fun live rock is to watch, i wouldn't have missed mine

Seffie x

 

[rl1oyd]

I think i will wait untill i get back from Florida

It will give me something to look forward to when im coming back.

This way i can dedicate the appropriate time.

Thanks for the replys

Any advice on the powerheads?

Cheers

 

[jtnova13]

I'm using maxijet mods. Saves alot of money if you need alot of flow, plus they work (so far) with my red sea wavemaster

Otherwise, seffie is spot on.