cycle shrimp

[pat8you]

You don't need to do water changes during your cycle. Just do a big one at the end of the cycle to get the nitrate levels down before adding fish or crew.

You don't need to skim during the cycle either. I have had a couple that were in sump skimmers and i never had any problems with them being loud. Hang on back skimmers i could see them making a humm from the pump or vibrating against the tank a bit.

 

[thincat]

You don't have to do water changes that often when you are cycling your tank. Some people say to wait and do a large (50%) change after your tank is cycled and before you add any livestock. Others will say to do weekly or everyother week so that you won't kill off alot of your Hitchhikers, good macro algae and coralline. Your main bacteria will be in your LR and Sand, not in your water.