When to introduce cleaning crew and macroalgae

I have starting keeping a log for my NO2, NO3, and NH4 levels. When should I introduce the cleaning crew? As soon as the levels are consistently at trace amounts or should I wait at least a specified period of time?

2nd question...is it okay to introduce macro-algae into my refugium now, before all the levels have settled down? Won't it help with the NO3 if I introduce it now?

 

Wait till everything is done with the cycle before you add a clean up crew. IMO wait to add anythign to the Fuge until you have livestock or it will die off. Cheato needs nitrate and light to live or it will go bye bye.

 

Ok. Scary picture by the way!

I bought this tank used with the live rock already in it. The former owner had been running it with the live rock in it along with a power head, heater and emporer bio-filter for a couple of months. I just did my first test of nitrate, nitrite and ammonia and all three turned up at very close to 0 ppm.

Could it be that the tank is already cycled from the rock already being cured or am I just dreaming? I wouldn't introduce anything in without consistent results, testing about once every third day, I'm just wondering what others' thoughts would be on whether or not the tank may be cycled.

What do you think?

 

You're cycled