Skimmer ??

Technically, you DO NOT need light for the cycling of a tank! At the initial point in time of a new tank set-up, light will only add fuel to the fire and spur unwanted microalgae coninsiding with high nutrient levels associated with a cycling of a tank.
As for the live rock/sand, YES, you can add them both to a tank before and during the cycling process. As a matter of fact, you could essentially use those two biological filtration counterparts as a sole means to cycling your tank>especially by using UNCURED live rock.
As for the duration of time needed to cycle a tank...there really isn't any clear cut time associated with this process, unfortunately! For the most part, somewhere around a month, give or take is the norm. You can speed up the process a bit by adding some live sand over and above that which comes in a sealed bag with just bacteria(Aragamax)from an established mature tank at the local pet shop or a friends tank nearby to offer you other beneficial organisms not found in bagged live sand such as polychaete worms, micro organisms and crustaceans.
Good luck!
TOM

 

Coral reefer is right. Cycling my 265 gal I never turned the lights on until week 8 and I still don't have a skimmer running yet. You want bacteria to grow not unwanted algae. But I will say this again, don't skimp on Lights or skimmer with your tank.

 

You also may not want to run your protein skimmer during the cycling phase. I also believe the skimmer is the most important part followed by lighting. My EV-400 is way overkill however I got a good deal and am very happy with it. I went for the lesser products to start off and now have a remora pro and a turbofloater 1000 not in use. So there alone I could have paid for a nice big skimmer. Lighting I did the same. Spen $230 on the quad florcent fixture just to replace it with Metal Halides a year later. I would say I spend a Grand on lighting and skimmers that are not even currently in use. And I'm sure most people here have fallen into the same trap.

 

Thanks, Coral Reefer, Otty and JT Reef, for all the wonderful knowledge you have giving me. I just have been trying my best to learn as much as I can before starting. Everyone here has been great.I now understand the "buy cheap, spend more later" and will work to be able to get the more efficient equipment. I am getting prepared to fulfill a 30 year dream. I have purchased a Aquac-C-EV 120 Skimmer, and with what I have learned will wait to use it, but it will there to be used. When I get started there will be thousands of questions, Thanks Wyatte

 

That is what we are hear for. just trying to have you make less errors than I did

 

Take things slow...take the time to do it right THE FIRST TIME and it will help you out immensely! Nothing worse than having your confidence squashed due to problems right from the start...and/or having to invest more money into the hobby than you already have without a sensible purpose!!!
I strongly urge you to read!!!!!!! as many reef/saltwater books as possible to help you gain knowledge...as well as spend time here on 3reef!!!OFCOURSE!!!!