Native tank questions (New York)

[Reeftanker3295]

Sorry i left, had a big power outage for past 3 hours. I usually put sand in then put a big bowl in the corner on top of the sand and pour the water into that so i dont get a storm, i think i may cook the rock outside of the tank and add in a damsel so i get some bacteria in the sand then add my native fish that ive collected, this would work right?

[Fat Tony]

No live fish to start teh cycle... it is very cruel. Go buy a piece of fresh unfrozen shrimp for the local seafood dealer and put it in a mesh bag and toss it in the tank let it sit in there for a few days/week and then pull it out. Thjat will start your cycle, no need to put even a damsel through that cruelty..

[Reeftanker3295]

Should i do that after i put in the rock or could i do it before that to get bacteria in the sand then add a fish or two?

[Fat Tony]

I'd do it when you add the rock, then wait for fish like any normal cycle.

[Reeftanker3295]

Ok so 1. Cook the rock for 1-2 months 2. Add the rock to the tank and put a piece of shrimp in there for a few days 3. Slowly start adding a few fish. Couple more questions: While the rocks cooking, should i just let the tank run with sand so that the skimmer breaks in? Ive never had a skimmer so when should i have it on and when should i have it off?

[Fat Tony]

You won't need the skimmer till after you add the rock... Also, cooking rock is more like 3-4 months

[Reeftanker3295]

Ok cool, but doesnt the skimmer not like some things like smells and stuff? I dont get exactly how a skimmer works would like to know more about them

[Fat Tony]

If all you have is sand, you aren't going to need the skimmer running. If you plan on cooking the rock in the tank, you don't want to put the sand in the tank for several months (like 4-6) and no fish. Cooking is best done in a plastic container that is kept dark and external from the tank. Initially change the water weekly (100%) and then after about a month go to every 2 weeks and then after a couple months of that, go to monthly. You need to change 100% of the water and swish the rocks off before doing a water change. My suggestion is a few 5 gallon buckets and some brute trashcans with lids...

Use 1 brute to start the cooking process. When it is time to change the water fill up the 5 gallon buckets with fresh SW to swish the rocks off in.. fill the second brute trashcan with fresh SW. Take each rock out individually and swish it in the 5 gallon buckets and then move to the trashcan with the fresh SW... that is the easiest way...

[Reeftanker3295]

I have a bunch of big heavy duty plastic containers that are big, 2 would easily hold all 50 pounds of the rock and thats what im going to be cooking the rock in but when i do add the rock, how do i work the skimmer? Do i turn it off at certain times when certain things are going on in the tank or even outside the tank? How do i "dial in" my skimmer and how long is the break in period?

[Fat Tony]

Just leave the skimmer off.. it won't be needed till the rock is added tot he display and the cycle is finished.

[Reeftanker3295]

I know but im talking about when i DO need to turn it on, hows it work and what should i be worried about and when should i turn it off and stuff?

[Fat Tony]

once you turn it on, the only reason to turn it off is to clean the pump.. other than that, it runs 24/7

when you need to clean it, adjust the water level output to it's lowest setting and take off the collection cup, clean an replace...readjust skimmer to the previous setting.

Prior to setting the skimmer up in the tank put it in a tub with a 25% mix of vinegar : water and run it for a couple days. This will clean the oils and residual stuff left over from the manufacturing processes.

[Reeftanker3295]

Alrighty sounds good. How often should i clean the collection cup? Do i just take it off, rinse it with water and get all the stuff out then put it back onto the skimmer? What exactly is "dialing in" the skimmer, are there ways that the skimmer is best set at?

[Fat Tony]

You need to clean the cup as often as it needs it.. no tank is the same so your mileage may vary on when you need to clean it.. it may be every couple of days or it may be a week or more depending on your skimmer, how you skim and your bioload.

Dialing in the skimmer is basically adjusting it to perform the way you want it to. There are two types of skimming, dry and wet. Dry equates to really dark thick nasty skimmate, while wet resembles something like green tea. To dial it in, you basically do one of two things, adjust the water level in the skimmer or adjust the air intake into the skimmer. This all depends on the skimmer brand.. what brand do you have?

[Reeftanker3295]

I dont have one yet and dont know which one i will be getting. Dont people skim wet to get rid of some nitrates in the tank and stuff?