When to add copepods and phyto to cycled tank

[ajtomase]

Hello everyone, I'm getting my new tank in 2 weeks and will do a fish-less cycle. Once my tank is fully cycled, do I add phyto plankton and copepods then, or do I wait until the ugly stage to add them?

 

[Pistondog]

If the goal is to get the pods going, add them and some phyto to feed after cycle.

 

[Hermie]

do it before the ugly stage and go very lightly on the phyto IMO, they need somethign to eat but you want them to eat both algae and the phyto, not just the phyto

 

[ReefSlice]

I cycled my rock fully in a tub before starting my new tank, but I officially started up the tank on the 6th of this month. Started dosing phyto and added a bottle of pods just over a week ago and just this morning started seeing a bunch on the glass. A light dusting of diatoms have been showing up the last few days.

 

[Seymo44]

I started phyto and pods once I saw the first green tint to my rocks and back glass. Well before when the ugly stage should have started but a couple weeks after the cycle ended. I mostly did this to make sure there was some algae present in case I skipped a day or two of phyto.

 

[peterhos]

Hi All Stupid question. I introduced phyto and copepods into a newly cycled tank. No longer any sign of the the copepods but water remins green. Is that good or bad? Will the green fade gradually? Could the pods be hiding?!

 

[Tired]

The copepods are hiding, as that's what they do. You might be able to see them on the glass at night, if you check. The green water is from the phyto multiplying, and it'll fade as it's eaten. You might also have added a bit much.