Protein Skimmer during cycle

Hey guys i have my tank cycling and am running the protein skimmer. During the cycling should i have the skimmer running on the lowest setting to break in. i just brought the skimmer and its new

 

most people don't run the skimmer initially. I did not run mine until late into the 3rd week. Once I had some CUC in the tank. It is a good idea to break it in, but there is really nothing in the tank in the beginning to actually make this process happen. I would wait until you see your nitrites go down and your nitrates go up. Start your skimmer then, and when the nitrates are zero or really close, do a 20% water change.

 

Yes. If you are using live rock it will have some die off and the skimmer will help export much of the organics so they don't break down in the system. I double up on sklimmers when I am curing live rock so I don't lose so many of the good things on the rock.

 

I didn't think about the type of rock when considering this question.

I had 90% dried base rock and 10% cured LR. That would be good to know what you have as far your live rock, and sand as well.

 

ive been running mine and there is PLENTY of funk in that tank trust me

 

I had my 168 lbs of Kaelini shipped air freight directly from Tonga and picked it up at the air freight dock myself so I had plenty of live critters and die off too. I cured it in the garage in an old 55G and some rubbermaid tubs so I didn't contaminate my new display or smell the hosue up.

 

I bet that smelled awesome!

 

I ran mine while my 20g was cycling and it gathered about a full load every 36 or so hours.

 

I would say that running it would not be a bad idea
because not only does it skim, it also aerates, which is always a good thing.;D

 

I think running the skimmer is a good idea for the reasons stated above and to get it broken in before adding life you don't want to lose.