Cheato during cycle?

Ok so my hob fuge just stopped working. And I don't want my cheato to die, can I add it to my fuge for my 29g even though its cycling?

 

Sounds like a good idea, it needs the light.

 

I was just concerned that the cheato would absorb the nutrients needed to cycle.

 

Cheato is not going to absorb the ammonia just excess nutrients.

 

cheato uses nitrates and phosphates... you won't have any nitrates until the nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia to nitrites, then to nitrates... it is not going to interrupt the first two parts of the cycle, so it can be good if there are nitrates for it to use.