Does my refugium need to cycle

[bond007069]

I have completed my fuge for my 29 gal. reef. It is an old crappy 29 gal. that i had an oscar in. I made three sections, protein skimming in the first, then come s the fuge part about 14 gallons worth, with a 1 inch pleneum, egg crate, CC and then some Agra-Alive Reef sand, 4 inch sand bed, then the next chamber drops down and i have my return pump. I wanted to know if i need to cycle the H2O in the fuge, total H2O volume is about 20 extra gallons. My main tank has been up and running since Aug of 2003, Ammo 0, pH 8.3, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20 ppm, SG 1.024, Ca++ 400, KH 10, Temp 79, of the main tank. The fuge is showing zero ammo, via a sea chem sticker. Thanks guys, i will try and post some pics, but i dono how to decrease the pixles on my camera. :idea: :twisted: :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, you'll need to get at least the nitrfying bacteria established. The other stuff is just going to take a while to really get established.

As for resizing piccies, I'll assume you have Windows. Go download Irfanview, it is the best free imaging manipulation software I've found for Windows, and makes not only resizing a breeze, but also resampling (changing the quality of the pic - reducing) easy-peasy!

 

[bond007069]

Cool thanks for the tip

 

[Anonymous]

When cycling you are actually establishing bacteria to appropriate populations on all the surfaces in the aquarium. If you don't have any surfaces to speak of (rock) there really isn't anything to cycle. So I would say that no, you don't need to cycle it.

 

[Anonymous]

Didn't he say he's got a plenum and crushed coral?

 

[bond007069]

Here are some pics

 

[bond007069]

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