I am getting ready to start doing a fishless cycle on my new 55 gal aquarium. This is my first aquarium and I have a question about the filter. I have an emperor 400 filter and was wondering if I need to wait till after the cycle is complete to put in the filter cartridge with the carbon. I was worried that the carbon might remove the ammonia and keep it from cycling.
Another question I have about that filter is do I need to run the carbon all the time? I was thinking that I read somewhere that carbon is not needed all the time so I was thinking that maybe I should find some kind of filter medium for mechanical filtration to put in the inserts that came with the filter and run the carbon filled cartridges just occasionally. Please let me know if I am way off base with this, I would really hate to make any mistakes that could be avoided.
Another question I have about that filter is do I need to run the carbon all the time? I was thinking that I read somewhere that carbon is not needed all the time so I was thinking that maybe I should find some kind of filter medium for mechanical filtration to put in the inserts that came with the filter and run the carbon filled cartridges just occasionally. Please let me know if I am way off base with this, I would really hate to make any mistakes that could be avoided.