When can i start a refigium

[Rafaelpadro24]

Hello everyone, currently have a 180 gallon tank that finally cycled about a month ago and now starting to put some fish in it. First started with 4 small clown fish waited few weeks now I have 2 small flame gobies, 2 small bangai cardinal and a small orchid dotyback. Been checking parameters and all seems to be stable. 2 days ago noted throughout the tank small brown spots I assume diatoms. I know is part of the new tank syndrome ugly phase but my question is my filtration which is a lifereef berlin sump it also has a separate refigium (24 gallons) and I like to know if it is to early to start a refigium. Was looking at algea barn refigium starter kit. Any thought or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I wouldn't set up a refugium until my normally scheduled water changes are not able to control nitrates. That's a very light bioload for that given water volume. A Refugium pack that starts off well, could easily strip your nutrients bare which is not a good thing generally.

 

[Lavey29]

I agree with the above. Maybe around 5 or 6 month start. But you can put some rock rubble or marine pure in there now even better a few pieces of live ocean rock to help make ugly phases more manageable.

 

[shootingstar_reef]

To @Lost in the Sauce 's intuition (and technically, AlgaeBarn's credit maybe?) I set up a refugium first, and for a year and a half I struggled with getting any detectable NO3 and PO4. Innumerable pods though, and generally clean water. My cheato struggled a bit in the beginning since I didn't have a lot of livestock anyway, but shortly after, it and the macroalgae did great, they were having a really good time (with some chetogro tbf).