Reef tank and Fuge at same time?

[saltwaterlover]

Hi! So I’m getting a 108 uk gallon tank with a sump in it I want to be able to keep corals and fish after the cycle and it’s matured a bit (for he corals) but I was wondering.

When you start your tank from scratch can you add a refugium straight away? In my sump I’ll have the filter sock then the protein skimmer in one section. The next section will be the refugium which I want to keep chaeto macroalgae, a little bit of rock, some shrimp and copepods. Then the last section will be my return pump.

The sump will be 26.5 uk gallons, so my question is really. Can you start the refugium the same time you set up your tank and start the cycle or do you have to wait till after the cycle is over to add the chaeto, dry rock and copepods?? (The shrimp would be after the cycle and if you have to wait for the copepods then they would be after as well)

Thanks [emoji7]

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The macro algae will consume the ammonia and take away from the bacteria.

It’ll cycle but the bacterial population will be lower.

 

[ryeguyy84]

I'd wait, there's a greater chance the chaeto will survive if you add it after you add fish. Pods will come in time on various things.

 

[saltwaterlover]

I'd wait, there's a greater chance the chaeto will survive if you add it after you add fish. Pods will come in time on various things.

Ok[emoji1303] so should I set up the tank, add the sump (with the fuge) and then once done cycling add the fish then fuge or fuge then fish, or at same time?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Fish +fuge.

Then the ammonia will def not spike.

 

[lapin]

so should I set up the tank?
add the sump (with the fuge) and then once done cycling add the fish then fuge?
or fuge then fish?
or at same time?
If your sump fuge will have rock and sand add that when you are cycling your tank.
Once your tank has cycled its time to add stuff. Add your pods and macro algae to the sump. The longer you wait to add fish the more pods you will have. Dont forget to feed them. You can even seed your tank with pods.

 

[saltwaterlover]

so should I set up the tank?
add the sump (with the fuge) and then once done cycling add the fish then fuge?
or fuge then fish?
or at same time?
If your sump fuge will have rock and sand add that when you are cycling your tank.
Once your tank has cycled its time to add stuff. Add your pods and macro algae to the sump. The longer you wait to add fish the more pods you will have. Dont forget to feed them. You can even seed your tank with pods.

Tysm that’s perfect

 

[saltwaterlover]

so should I set up the tank?
add the sump (with the fuge) and then once done cycling add the fish then fuge?
or fuge then fish?
or at same time?
If your sump fuge will have rock and sand add that when you are cycling your tank.
Once your tank has cycled its time to add stuff. Add your pods and macro algae to the sump. The longer you wait to add fish the more pods you will have. Dont forget to feed them. You can even seed your tank with pods.

Could I add fuge mud instead of sand into the refugium when I do my cycle ?

 

[lapin]

YES

 

[davocean]

You don't HAVE to have mud or sand, I personally just do LR rubble and chaeto, and that's it.

Pods will come w/ the chaeto.

I did not have a great experience w/ mud, and I don't like sand near pumps, this works for me and I have tons of pods.

 

[saltwaterlover]

You don't HAVE to have mud or sand, I personally just do LR rubble and chaeto, and that's it.

Pods will come w/ the chaeto.

I did not have a great experience w/ mud, and I don't like sand near pumps, this works for me and I have tons of pods.

Ty

 

[saltwaterlover]

YES

That was vERY enthusiastic [emoji23]