Best time to add refugium and CUC?

[Steve1500]

I have a 75G tank that has been cycling w LR/LS for about 4 months. Nothing else in the tank but one cleaner shrimp. I also have 6 small fish in QT and about 25 corals in another QT. I will add the fish to the in the next 30 days (3 at a time) and then I will add the corals about a month after I add the fish.

My question surrounds the refugium and CUC. When should I start the fuge? After I add the fish to give things time to "brew" or after I add the corals?

Same question for CUC...when should I add them? Apologize that this is probably not the right forum for the CUC but figured I kill two birds....

Thanks
Steve

 

[Cjud7982]

in my experience you usually set up all nutrient export methods up before adding fish and corals. I usually have my refugium up and running the day I start cycling the tank so that it also cycles and gives you time to work any kinks out of the system. If you are going for a sterile parasite free tank, then once the cuc, corals, and fish have passed hospitalization, treatments, fallow periods, etc, you can drop em in the display as you please. Like you said, a few at a time so you can control nutrients and maintain water quality. I wouldnt let anything brew, I would get the refugium up and running before anything else. This will also give you time to cultivate a good pod population which I like to have.

 

[beaslbob]

IMHO you should start a refugium during the initial setup.

But that's just me and my .02

 

[Steve1500]

Sounds like I am late to need, but better late than never. I will start asap! Thanks folks.

Steve

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Did your method of cycling add significant nutrients to the water?

 

[Steve1500]

Did your method of cycling add significant nutrients to the water?

Sorry Randy, I am not sure what you mean. For my DT, I used LR/LS and added fish food. I did not add anything else. Can you please elaborate on what you mean by "adding nutrients to the water"?

 

[Cjud7982]

I think he means nutrients as in nitrates and phosphates, the two primary nutrients we use refugium a to export. Do you have test kits for these? He is correct and this will tell you how necessary the refugium is at this point

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Right, nitrate and phosphate, mostly.

Live rock with a lot of dead stuff that is curing will release a huge amount of organic matter. I'd set up a macroalgae (if that is the plan) pretty soon.

If you are starting with dead rock and ammonia, I might wait longer, at least until cycling is finished and after any post cycling water changes you may do.

 

[Steve1500]

Yes, I will test nitrates and phosphates today. What phos and nitrate parameters will tell me to start one or not?

If I do setup the fuge soon, I plan on cheato, red gracillaria and some pods. Good for starters?

Thanks!

 

[Steve1500]

Yes, I will test nitrates and phosphates today. What phos and nitrate parameters will tell me to start one or not?

If I do setup the fuge soon, I plan on cheato, red gracillaria and some pods. Good for starters?

Thanks!

Btw, I used LR and have done 2-3 water changes since I finished cycling in Jan. Nothing else in the tank but a shrimp which I just put in a few weeks ago.

 

[Steve1500]

Right, nitrate and phosphate, mostly.

Live rock with a lot of dead stuff that is curing will release a huge amount of organic matter. I'd set up a macroalgae (if that is the plan) pretty soon.

If you are starting with dead rock and ammonia, I might wait longer, at least until cycling is finished and after any post cycling water changes you may do.

Tested my DT and here are my results:

Phosphate: 0.0ppm (used Hanna checker)
Nitrates: ~2.0 ppm (Red Sea)
pH: 8.2
Mg: ~1560ppm (Red Sea)
Ca: ~350ppm (Red Sea)
Alk: 7.7 dK (Hanna)