I've been looking around and can't find an answer.
I'm going to start fishless cycling my tank tonight or tomorrow. I am running a marineland biowheel 400. I have the power filters for it.

I think I do, but wanted to ask, I need to cycle with the power filters in place right?

I found my answer. Carry on!

Yes you can cicle with the power wheels on.It takes the wheels some time to start producing beneficial bacteria.They don't come with the bacteria on them so the amonia that builds in your tank during the cicling period will not not kill any good bacteria. Being that the wheels won't have any on them.

i meant the power filters in the back of the unit not the wheels. I may just buy an aquaclear tomorrow, my emperor 400 is too damn LOUD

yes you will be ok with the power filters during the cicle and if your emperor 400 is to loud you should have it exchange.I have two running on a 125 long plus two rena filstars xp3 and i can bearly hear any noice.

Aqua Clears are amazing! I found that for the first week they make a bit of noise, but once they 'break in' so to speak, they are completely silent - and they have a massive space for multiple media! (I have 2 AC's on one tank and 1 on another..... would have 2 on that one too but the tank came with an Aqueon, so... yeah.)

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20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

If I can find two AC 50s I might do that.

What size is your tank? Two AC 50's at full flow would be filtration enough for a 100g tank - which is nice! Extra filtration is always a plus. (On my 20g I have 50g's of filtration and on my 36g I have 115g's of filtration.)

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20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

Go beg buy or borrow some seeded media.... The filtration system does nothing to induce the cycling process... Ya can begin it by adding household ammonia.. or throw in some cheap fish food... Ya have to have an ignitable to initiate the start of the cycle and that is either fish waste, spent fish food or raw ammonia......Or.. if you've access to a high end fish store, you can have an "over-night" shipment of bacteria to jump-start the cycle... The bacteria only lasts up to 72 hrs so don't look in your big box or even most LFS's... Bill in Va.

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12 Tanks, 900 gallons. Discus/Angels/Malawi/Lake Victorias. Just added a 135 & 2 - 29's..

I used ace janitorial ammonia to 4 ppm.

When I had My 29 gallon running I had 2 AC 50s running on it.

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75 Gallon Planted