Introducing Macros?

Ah, sounds like a very time consuming process, but what in this hobby isnt? lol.
Thank you for the explanation.
Guess its a little too late to do a soft cycle for me since I already put my LR in. I did the same process only minus the chaeto.

 

hard cycle it is then! the chaeto may help take the edge off. since it is so easy to break up, (the chaeto), give it a shot, it can't hurt and it may save some tunicate that will pop up in a month or so...who knows...you are already this far though so maybe you should just finish up with the hard cycle. I don't think you can really go wrong either way.

time -
it depends on how long it takes...once you start collecting tanks you tend to have tons of ready to go filtration media..once you get enough to cover a good deal of ammonia you can really stock the tank quickly with rock and still have a soft cycle...speed through the soft cycle is just dependent on the surface area you can create in the tank without the rock...I keep bio wheels floating in some large systems to keep them filled with bacteria..if a local wants to setup a tank I just loan them out and we can usually get a tank fully soft cycled and ready to go with full LR after 2 weeks. Rocks are added daily etc... One of the better tricks I have learned.

 

Very true. Thanks.