question about cycling

[Sundiego]

I am reading a book called The aquarium reef: Science, Art, and Technology it is a great book.

The book says to cycle my live rock with the lights off, and to keep the protein skimmer off as well. I will have LR that is not cured.

I have heard others say to cycle with the lights on?

What is the best method?

Mark

 

[chase33]

It is a good book and I read that too in a few publications. I posed the same question when I began my cycle and I think as I did you'll receive arguments representing both sides. I turned mine on as if there were fish in the tank for most days while others I didn't turn them on at all.

 

[Sadielynn]

You really dont need your lights this can fuel algea growth . However you can turn them on to peek inside the tank....You will still get some algeas as this is a new tank such as diatoms (brown colored on the glass and sand wipes off easy and is dusty in apperance) as for the skimmer I can not really answer that one , as I do not run a skimmer .... Once all my levels of ammnia , nitrItes, dropped to 0 I waited a few days longer retested and did a water change .

 

[melosu58]

As mentioned earlier you really dont have to have them on to cycle your tank. But if you want them on then you can but most likely you`ll deal with more algea issues in the tank from the begining. But it should not be more than your clean up crew can handle once your tank has cycled.

 

[Devilishturtles]

I turned my lights on, but there really is no need to during the cycle unless you want to. The lights play no part on cycle speed.

I did not run my skimmer during my cycle either, but again, I highly doubt doing so would harm your cycle.

HTH

 

[seaham358]

I did not run my lights during the cycle because I did not have them

The skimmer I did run and it took crap out of the water, so I see no reason not to run it. I see it as a time to learn the skimmer and adjust it and let it break in so to speak .

 

[Sundiego]

Thanks for the info. I will cycle with the lights off, I'm not too sure about the skimmer though.