When to setup refugium

[NakiFantaki]

Setting up my new tank next week - this is the first tank where I am adding a fuge. My question is when should I set it up? I'm planning to just add some rock rubble, a plate of marine pure and some cheato.
Do I just want to add everything but the cheato and let it cycle first?
Or should I add the cheato with a everything else?

Will an ammonia spike harm or stunt the micro algae growth?

 

[CodyRVA]

Let the system cycle first. I can't speak to the affect it would have on the chaeto, but there's really no point or purpose to add your macros while the tank is cycling. Let the cycle do it's thing, when you get to your high nitrate spike (end of cycle) and need to do your water change, then add it. Just my .02

You could get your macros now and put it in a bucket of fresh water with a lamp, just feed the bucket a bit (add nutrients). This will give you some additional growth before you do add it to your display and you'll have it ready for when the cycle finishes. Not necessary by any means... just a thought.

 

[NakiFantaki]

Thanks for the input!!! That's about what I was thinking.!

 

[lion king]

Since the purpose of the chaeto will be nutrient reduction, it really wouldn't be necessary to add until you have nutrients, after you're adding and feeding fish. One of the lfs here actually doses his macro tanks for growth with ammonia, so using that logic chaeto may actually interfere with your cycle.

 

[Double Z]

This was the advice I was looking for thanks. My cycle is just about finished, so I am going to start my refugium and then add a couple fish next week.