Cycle a Sump only?

[koop171]

Can I cycle my sump only? It houses all the BB since the tank will be barebottom. And basically I will just put the pumps in the sump and have them run the water back up to the top of the bio chamber.

So can this be done? or has anyone ever done this?

I want to do this b/c as soon as I find some cheep srubbies I am going to have my sump done but the tanks not ready. So I figure if the sumps ready why not cycle it while I'm still working on the main tank. Then when I'm done with the tank all I have to do is run the plumbing and it's ready for fish.

[chesterthehero]

yep.. cycling is cycling... just get an ammonia source and let it go... you can stick yer media in a rubbermaid tub with a powerhead or an airstone for water movement if you wanted to.. just add ammonia to match yer expected bioload...

[koop171]

yep.. cycling is cycling... just get an ammonia source and let it go... you can stick yer media in a rubbermaid tub with a powerhead or an airstone for water movement if you wanted to.. just add ammonia to match yer expected bioload...



lol I got the rubbermaid thing covered. It's not done yet but close.

[NOLAGT]

lol I got the rubbermaid thing covered. It's not done yet but close.


That came out NICE! I was going to do the same sorta as you. My tank is ready and im going to build the wetdry and stand...but mean while I was going to try a fishless cycle in a rubbermade tub to be ready when the stand and filter are.

[ronin_man]

looks great, good job

[koop171]

looks great, good job


Thanks I messed up making it and made my bio chamber about 2" smaller then I wanted. But I can move it later if I want. I figure about 20+ gal of bio balls and scrubbies should be enough. If not I can allways change it.

[NOLAGT]

They say 35gal of freshwater per gal of bio balls. And some things i have read on here lately seems to say that scrubbies have twice the surface area than bio balls.

[koop171]

I got almost 600gal to filter. So at the 35 gal per gal. rule I need almost 17gal of bio media. So my 20+ Should do ok for now b/c I'm still on the fence for stocking. I can't wrap my head around a tank full of monsters OR a Monster community. If I do the later I'll need more media.

[NOLAGT]

The 35 per gal is for bio balls...so to me if scrubbies have twice the surface area then you should be ok maybe. You could always add some sand filters too.

That is one bad hiney tank too. I love the shape!

[hybridtheoryd16]

This is a very good way to get some seed bacteria going but I hope you know that when you get your tank set up and put all this seed into action the tank will still go thru a small cycle. It will just make it complete alot quicker.

[koop171]

This is a very good way to get some seed bacteria going but I hope you know that when you get your tank set up and put all this seed into action the tank will still go thru a small cycle. It will just make it complete alot quicker.


Yeah But it will allow me to get a big jump on the cycle. I don't want to wait very long with 600gal+ (with sump) to cycle. I want this tank up and semi stocked. fast. Once I get the tops for the tank and the heaters I want to be able to get fish. I don't want 600+gal sitting doing nothing lol.

[ronin_man]

all you can really do is check you params, once you have the tank all set up i bet it only takes less than a week till your ready to go

[koop171]

all you can really do is check you params, once you have the tank all set up i bet it only takes less than a week till your ready to go


That's what I'm hoping. I Have to do some looking for scrubbies and I need to silicone in two other pieces to hold up the bottom drip plate. and I can add water and start.