Lights off for first 4 months?

[rainsong]

Here is what I did. I have the light off for 3 months when I first start my 210 gal with 120 lbs of dry rock in to do the cycling. I start growing the chaeto in my refugium/sump with 5 hours of light 7days a week since day one. When I switch on my main lighting at the end of 3 months. I setup the lighting in my display tank with 5 hours a day and increase 20 minutes every week. I may be lucky, I never come across any ugly stage. And now my tank is about 7 months old, and all my SPS and LPS are growing fine with good color as well.

Did you have to dose any nutrients for your chaeto initially (first 3 months)?

 

[EugeneVan]

Did you have to dose any nutrients for your chaeto initially (first 3 months)?

At first I didn't dose any nutrients except brightwell Microbacter7 and Quickcycl for cycling the dry rock and the chaeto stop growing in about 2 weeks and start melting. Then I start daily dosing of brightwell 1ml ChaetoGro and 3 ml Ferrion. One week later, the chaeto come back and getting stronger since.

 

[Maxcmo]

I added a few live rocks from another tank and have been dosing vibrant weekly. I do have a refugium with a large handful size of chaeto that is not growing to quickly nor is it dying just kind of holding its own. I am thinking maybe the vibrant is holding it back a bit. Lights have been on for 2 days now, I added one coral from another tank and I am keeping my fingers crossed for a couple weeks before I transfer all my corals over and tear down the old system.