cycling questions

[jamest0o0]

Should I have the skimmer and lights on during cycling?

[duncantse]

You should leave skimmer on. But you can leave the lights off.

[almostazoo]

I dont feel the same way, do you have live rock? If so, many of the things that live in the rock need light in order to live. Fish do not require light but a large portion of the ocean does. Light triggers life for most of what we deal with so why not start it the way it is meant to be? I am sure that I will have many people that will sound off against this now.

[AaronM]

If using deadrock, i think skimmer and lights are optional. The +'s and -'s are pretty small i reckon.

If using liverock, i'd use both. Skimmer to reduce transport die of spikes for the benefit of what's alive on the rock, i.e to preserve diverse + interesting life, and lights for the benefit of any photosynthetc hitchhikers + ones with a light/dark routine.

[Lynnmw1208]

when cycling my tank I left the skimmer on and I only ran lights 5 hours a day as opposed to a full 8 hour schedule.

[jimmy frag]

run the skimmer dead or alive. you will still get skimmate

[Steve175]

If using lights, limit photoperiod or you will have major algae bloom from which it will take a while to recover

[thebkramer]

+1 to all!!!!! :bounce3: