New tank start up..

So when I start my new aquarium and I put the base rock and sand in and let them begin to cycle. Do I start my refugium(DSB cheato and pods) at the same time? Or do I have to wait... I guess what I'm trying to ask is do I run my full blown sump(skimmer/fuge) right from the beginning?

 

I think I would hold out on the micro algae and the pods but go ahead with the dsb. Well have to wait for someone with maybe more knowledge to chime in. I believe the algae will need nitrates to consume to grow which wont be present until towards the end of the cycle, and that pods are inverts so that would make them very fragile to swings in ammonia and nitrite.

 

Thanks.. That makes sense.

 

I agree, I wouldn't put anything living in the tank until the cycle is close to done, chaeto might be fine though actually after a couple weeks, there should be some nutrients available by then.

 

I agree with the above. I would hold off on the algae and the pods until you tank has cycled. once your cycle is done then you can worry about the fuge. I honestly dont think you will need to worry about for some time yet though. monitor your water once you see the nitrate creep up then you will want to consider adding the macro algae. The pods I would wait a few months to let your tank settle in some.

 

Put the DSB together and use the cycle to fine tune the flow thru the sump and fuge but do not run the skimmer till the cycle is completed. Once the initial cycle winds down and the nitrites fall to 0 you can begin to add macro algea and chateo with pods to the fuge and look at adding about 1/3 rd of your CUC to the display tank.

 

So basiclly just run the return pump until the cycle has finished and add my CUC right near the end of the cycle.

 

you got it