"StringerBell" wrote in message ...
Sort of. It's not really connected to the current level of nitrites,
nitrates, etc. in the tank, but it does indicate that the ammonia and
nitrite levels will drop soon.

There is definitely dead stuff on the sandy bottom. Should I stir things up
into the water so that the skimmer has a chance to remove that stuff too?

Skimmer is not particularly good in removing large particles...
They are usually to heavy for the foam to lift it out of the water.
Skimmer is mostly used to remove dissolved organic impurites and
mikroscopic particles (including fito-zoo-plankton, unfortunatelly).

Read this:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/pro...111097skim.htm
And he
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-08/rhf/index.php