Triton Method -- Start at Beginning of Cycle?

[esther]

We’re getting out Waterbox 220g at the end of December/beginning of January and will be cycling the tank for about 3 to 4 months. We will have a refugium from day one as well. Just curious as to when you think we should start the Triton method? Should we start it immediately when we start cycling so that the tank will be ready for fish & coral? Or should we start it after the 3 to 4 months? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[dank reefer]

I would personally not start a refugium (cheato) at the beginning of a cycle as it will not have any nutrients for it to export out, and just might die off. I would start the fuge after a couple of months of it having fish, and enough waste for it to start doing its job at exporting out.

That's just my 2 cents!

 

[Samina]

Since you are doing a 3-4 month cycle, once it is complete, I think it would be good to start the refugium. It is important to not start a refugium until after the tank reduces the ammonia input (usually 2ppm) to nitrate within 24hrs, because the macroalgae can throw the cycle off. After you complete your cycle and do a water change, you will still have nutrients in your tank and that should be sufficient to start the refugium off with. I would advise you to keep the display lights off while you cycle and even after until you also establish the refugium and some utilitarian fish. After you start the refugium, I would say you are at a good point in adding some hardy fish in there. Adding fish within a close margin of time from the starting of the refugium would be a good idea so that you will have nutrients that can be utilized by the macro.
As far as dosing Triton Base, I would hold off on that as you will not have the uptake from coral and other consumers that will be making dosing necessary. And also, the supplements are rather strong so until you are seeing alk and Ca being consumed, dosing the additives will just cause accumulation and raise your levels.
What salt are you using?

 

[esther]

Since you are doing a 3-4 month cycle, once it is complete, I think it would be good to start the refugium. It is important to not start a refugium until after the tank reduces the ammonia input (usually 2ppm) to nitrate within 24hrs, because the macroalgae can throw the cycle off. After you complete your cycle and do a water change, you will still have nutrients in your tank and that should be sufficient to start the refugium off with. I would advise you to keep the display lights off while you cycle and even after until you also establish the refugium and some utilitarian fish. After you start the refugium, I would say you are at a good point in adding some hardy fish in there. Adding fish within a close margin of time from the starting of the refugium would be a good idea so that you will have nutrients that can be utilized by the macro.
As far as dosing Triton Base, I would hold off on that as you will not have the uptake from coral and other consumers that will be making dosing necessary. And also, the supplements are rather strong so until you are seeing alk and Ca being consumed, dosing the additives will just cause accumulation and raise your levels.
What salt are you using?

Haven't decided on salt yet. Tank arrives in a week or two. Any suggestions?

 

[Samina]

I use Tropic Marin Pro. I am pretty happy with it and it works really well with the system. It is one of the recommended salts. I cannot recall or find which other ones are also on the list so I can’t really speak on them.

 

[myakuel]

I ordered the 220 waterbox in nov 2019, and it will be arriving this week. im trying to think it out as much as possible before i get water in the tank. I have previously used 2part solution to maintain cal and alk but am thinking about doing the triton method for this new build. do you think the refugium in the sump is large enough for the method or are you running a pax bellum or some other type of reactor? can i use a klir 7 and do triton?
appreciate your advice
thanks
Michael

 

[esther]

I ordered the 220 waterbox in nov 2019, and it will be arriving this week. im trying to think it out as much as possible before i get water in the tank. I have previously used 2part solution to maintain cal and alk but am thinking about doing the triton method for this new build. do you think the refugium in the sump is large enough for the method or are you running a pax bellum or some other type of reactor? can i use a klir 7 and do triton?
appreciate your advice
thanks
Michael

I'm going to use the existing refugium. It's a little on the small side, but I think it should be fine. Going to keep an eye on it and will update our build thread accordingly.