New cycling of saltwater aquarium; chaeto brown

[Davisfamily4]

I’ve recently began my cycle 3 weeks ago for my saltwater aquarium. It’s an 80 gallon display with LS and LR, 20 gallon Sump. I have my refugium first and the chaeto is starting to Brown just a bit. A week ago, I inserted pods but prior to that the chaeto was super green. Why is brown starting to show?

 

[Redfoxtang]

First off welcome to R2R!!!
More than likely your chaeto is dying because it doesn’t have enough nutrients to stay alive. Since your tank is so young I would hold off on the chaeto for now until the tank matures a little longer!!

 

[MERKEY]

Hello and welcome!

Great advice given above!

 

[lapin]

Howdy
Do you have ammonia?
Chaeto, and almost all plants and algaes for that matter, will use whatever form of Nitrogen is most readily available to them. In a properly cycled tank the most previlant form of Nitrogen is Nitrates, but if Ammonia is present the chaeto will use the Nitrogen from that as well. It is prob in shock form the lack of nitrate and not able to process enough ammonia to keep it at the current size

 

[Davisfamily4]

Understood, thx for the feedback everyone! I’ll hold off on the chaeto until it matures a bit more. I was thinking to cycle for 3 months? No lights, no fish other than 3 bio spira bottles to start nitrogen cycle and allowing it to marinate.

 

[W1ngz]

Understood, thx for the feedback everyone! I’ll hold off on the chaeto until it matures a bit more. I was thinking to cycle for 3 months? No lights, no fish other than 3 bio spira bottles to start nitrogen cycle and allowing it to marinate.

That would be great. And if you can hold on for 3 months, you have all my admiration. I'd never have that level of self restraint.