Add chaeto or macro algaes to the refugium while cycling?

A

aentrop

The tank got 150 pounds of rock added a few days ago on (9/10/08), and I am currently cycling the tank.

Will adding chaeto or other macro algaes to the refugium help/harm or speed up/slow down the cycling of the tank?

I trimmed my macro in my 150 reef, and stuck it in there a few days before I even got the rock when it was just sand (live, from a 4 year old tank.)

I added the uncycled LR and

After 2 days my water was at:
Ammonia: 1+
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 1+

After 4 days my water was at:
Ammonia: 0.5
Nitrate 25
Nitrite 1+

After 5 days my water was at:
Ammonia: 0.1
Nitrate 50
Nitrite 1+

And today I haven't tested.

I'm not concerned about the speed of the cycle, I have been doing daily water tests:
a) because I get the test packets free,
and
b) because I wanted to educate my self to see how things change on a daily basis.
 
When you said this..........

I trimmed my macro in my 150 reef, and stuck it in there a few days before I even got the rock when it was just sand (live, from a 4 year old tank.)

............are you saying you already had a 150gal reef going and are setting up another one?


I have always used live rock when I set up my tanks and they barely go through any cycle at all.
 
I don't think it will harm / hurt / slow down the cycle. If you had a really harsh cycle, it might hurt the macro, but not the reverse.
 
Yep, I have a 150 gallon reef - 1 year old,
and am setting up this new 100 gallon.

My build log for the 100g is:
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=49846

And My photo thread for the 150g is:
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=51199
 
ive done it before and then not done it until after, i can not say that i have noticed any difference in the time of the cycle or any affect positive or negative on the tank except the tank i put macro in earlier had pod life earlier.
 
I always add it after - as Ashlar said it "may" hurt the macro or even make it go asexual or just die.....
-better to wait - I think....
 
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