Skimmer off for sandstorm?

[Village Idiot]

I'm getting ready to add sand to my cycling tank. Should I turn off the skimmer while the dust is settling? It's bubbling now but not producing any skimate yet -- it's only been in the tank for a day..

 

[alexb518]

Some people belive that the skimmer should go on the first day, others say wait a month. if you do turn it on, the only thing you're going to see in your collection cup is fine granules of sand and clean water. so, just wait a few days and it should clear up. Personally, i would wait a week so you don't skim out that "funk" that comes out of your LR. it's full of life.

 

[marduc]

I'm part of the skimmer from the get-go school here. Run the skimmer with a very wet foam and it will help to clear the sandstorm up a lot quicker than without, also.. when you are first starting up and setting up a tank there is going to be excess die offs, nutrient spikes ect. A skimmer is utilized to remove excess organic proteins.. it will not make a dent in what life is established/establishing life in the tank. It will help to remove the excess proteins and organics mitigating and shoirtening the length and severity of your cycle.

 

[Agu]

If I use a skimmer I also run it from the beginning but I tend to run it on the dry side until it breaks in. If you run it too wet it can possibly overflow.


jmo,

 

[Village Idiot]

When you say run it wet, you mean with the bubbles as high as they will go -- with the air knob all the way open?

 

[marduc]

yeah, running it wet would be setting it so it pulled more water with the bubbles, whereas running it dry would mean so that it pulls little water with the foam.

Overflowing a new skimmer is a definate consideration with running it wet, and in fact I tend to run my skimmer a little on the drier side here; however for the purpose of clearing up a sandstorm a wet foam will clear the water quicker in my experience.