Did I go wrong not getting cheato?

[WvAquatics]

So my order from Algea Barn arrived. I ordered sea lettuce, pom pom, and red ogo. Will the sea lettuce and pom pom be fine in sump like this?

The I put ogo here 9n the rocks in DT. Will it be fine here? Sorry it's all blue.

 

[andrewey]

The rock looks quite new- how old is the tank? My first concern is whether you have enough nutrients in the water to promote macoalgae growth.

 

[WvAquatics]

The rock looks quite new- how old is the tank? My first concern is whether you have enough nutrients in the water to promote macoalgae growth.

Just finished cycle. Or atleast almost done with nitrite spike. So as of now nutrients should be higher. I plan to get fish in by next month. I will also look into adding nutrients if I must. I have freshwater dry ferts I could use for nitrates and phosphate if need be. I could get iodine and other nutrients if need be.

 

[andrewey]

Honestly, I wouldn't do any of that. You're likely to make things 100% worse by dosing nutrients at this stage of the game. It's a toss up- your macroalgae may be fine, but don't be surprised if it dies. Your tank is still cycling. Adding anything during a cycle, including macroalgae is risky. I wouldn't do anything right now- simply let it ride and see how everything turns out. A new tank is a very volatile environment- hope for the best, but don't try and "fix" anything or change anything- just give it time to stabilize.

 

[WvAquatics]

I plan to let it settle some. I hope the nutrients from just cycling will be enough to feed the macro to survive.
I'm planning maybe 3 mollies to be acclimated first. While clownfish are in qt. That will add bioload and fish poo. Fingers crossed for a semi successful 1st venture

 

[JonoB]

I know its exciting to start adding stuff to the tank, but going slow is always better. The point of macro algae in the sump is to export nutrients. You don't have any nutrients to export right now, so the macro algae isn't serving a purpose other than giving you something to add. Unfortunately, without the nutrients to export, the algae has nothing to live off of. I guess I would keep it in now that its there, but if it starts dying I wouldn't dose anything, I would just take it out and add some more whenever I had fish in there and nutrients needed to be exported.

 

[WvAquatics]

I have read alot of of threads. About people adding macro to cycling tanks. I guess I might have been a little excited. Maybe I'll dose ammonia up again so that's 24 hrs of other nutrients for the macro. Let the learning curve start.

 

[JonoB]

Its ok to be excited and I just share my experience/advice because I want to see your tank thrive because looking at pretty tank pictures is my favorite thing to do!

 

[WvAquatics]

Oh I take constructive criticism well. So no worries no feelings hurt. I have been doing massive research. Have a plan of steps. I am trying to get macro and pods growing. But maybe that was a couple steps ahead.bwe will see. Next is a couple hermits and snails. I'm getting diatoms on the sand so planning my cuc. Then I plan about 3 mollies to start waste. Qt a few fish add them and let it settle for a month or 2. Then start on more fish. We will see hopefully it doesn't be a disaster with macro. Lol

 

[andrewey]

I wouldn't dose ammonia for the macro unless you were already planning on dosing ammonia anyway.

 

[Arthacker87]

I personally never do micro algae in the tank. Ones its sets it close to impossible to get rid of and its invasive. Ive never had the red stuff before but I'm a fan of any micro algae.

 

[WvAquatics]

I wouldn't dose ammonia for the macro unless you were already planning on dosing ammonia anyway.

I am just trying to think of ways to add some more nitrates and from my reading macro will use ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates to grow. My red ogo half is flowing other half is dark. But I see strands in it getting more color back. Hopefully a good sign. We will see. All a learning process. I am trying not to rush. But I'm also impatient lol. I'm planning on at least a month more of adding pods and cuc as I go before fish. Then thoose fish with be freshwater mollies that won't Cary marine sickness. Then 2 month qt for first 3 or 4 fish. Maybe a little early on fuge. But my fuge is getting some green on the bottom so it's trying to grow microalgae. We will see.

 

[WvAquatics]

I personally never do micro algae in the tank. Ones its sets it close to impossible to get rid of and its invasive. Ive never had the red stuff before but I'm a fan of any micro algae.

I thought I would add some to display while it's new and hopefully it starts taking off and I can trim it and add to fuge. Then when I get herbivore they will have extra food untill they eat it all. Also planning to take the sea lettuce, pom pom, and ogo and making himemade nori sheets. That's if I get them growing good.

 

[Arthacker87]

I got ya. It tends to take over I'm my stuff lol

 

[WvAquatics]

I'm planning atleast a fox face and maybe yellow tang so hopefully they like the algeas lol or I'm in trouble.

 

[WvAquatics]

Night one down. Everything is hanging in there haha. Like 12 hrs is a test of something. Red ogo in display is getting more orange as time goes. I think it likes the reefbreeders. Thanks everyone for the input I'll be keeping a close eye on it.