While Cycling

[carrera]

hey, my first time cycling a tank.. just wondering, should the filter and/or airpump be running ?

thanks.

 

[Tolak]

Yes, your bacteria needed to cycle a tank colonize in the filter media.

 

[mark.w.jones]

hey, my first time cycling a tank.. just wondering, should the filter and/or airpump be running ?
thanks.

Your filter must be kept running throughout the fishless cycle. It should have, in no particular order.

Some sort of filter media. Majority of your bacteria will grow here. I have 2cm ceramic tubes in my filter. Don't need cleaning.
Filter wool. Quite dense. Physically filters out bigger stuff. Squeeze out weekly in old tank water
Filter sponge. More sponge like in appearance surprisingly. Some bacteria grow out. Squeeze out monthly in old tank water. Dont go over the top thou.
Maybe a carbon filter. Often black gritty stuff. Not needed in filter unless you want to clean out medication or decolouration from you water.

 

[carrera]

thanks guys, so filter on, what about air pump? bacteria need aeration ?

 

[BigIan]

the bacteria do need oxygen in the water yes but they won`t consume enough to warrent an air pump.

 

[carrera]

gotcha, thanks a bunch