Sand/Skimmer questions!

[Pixburgh]

When is a good time to start using the skimmer? During cycle or afterwards? I've read some threads about there being a "break in" time for skimmers so just wanted to be sure I start it at the right time.

Sand... I've read a lot of good things about caribsea aragonite reef grade & oolite sand. Is it ok or preferable to mix these two together? Are there any particular steps I should follow? I.e adding oolite first then reef grade ontop etc?

many Thanks!

 

[Reefing Madness]

If its breand new, I'd run it during cycle, so its ready when you need it. Its also advisable to run it if you didn't get fully cured live rock.
You can mix the 2 sands together without issues.

 

[Dalmatia]

If its breand new, I'd run it during cycle, so its ready when you need it. Its also advisable to run it if you didn't get fully cured live rock.
You can mix the 2 sands together without issues.

What's the point if that? It's cycling. Isn't it better to have the bad stuff in there so your bacteria can feed off something? Instead off you dosing ammonia that your fish would produce if you didn't anyways? Getting the rock used to the heavy bio load is I think better.
Use the skimmer when the tank is done cycling. After a cycle you should do a 80% to a 100% water change.

 

[Reefing Madness]

The ammonia is growing off the die off, no need to let it run around the tank once it falls off the rock.
Im not a fan of 100% water changes. No reason for it, if your running your system as is, like its been up for awhile. Might take a lil longer, but it gets the job done.

 

[Dalmatia]

The ammonia is growing off the die off, no need to let it run around the tank once it falls off the rock.
Im not a fan of 100% water changes. No reason for it, if your running your system as is, like its been up for awhile. Might take a lil longer, but it gets the job done.

Ammonia is what you want before you add anything to help speed up the proses of culturing bacteria. And the water change of 80-100% is just when cycling.
If you have fish, inverts and corals I don't recommend of doing that amount of water change. More like 20-30% every 2-4weeks