When to add Carbon, GFO, Chaeto and Copepods?

[ItsAName]

75 gallon with 40 gallon sump and refugium.

I've cycled my rock for 2 months (with phantom feeding), added it to the tank, and added live sand. I also add bacteria to the tank. Cycled the entire thing together for 2 weeks and all the levels look good. I know this is sooner than normal but I think it's due from cycling the rock and adding the bacteria.

I've added 2 small clown fish, and two small frags.

1. When should I add carbon and gfo to the sump?
2. Eventually I want to add a Mandarin. When should I add the Copepods? And what's the care for them? I was thinking of adding them to the refugium to let them reproduce.
3. When do I add chaeto?

A lot of questions, each with their own novel I'm sure! Thank you!

 

[Oscar47f]

I would add GFO when you see a rise in Phosphate levels, Carbon can be used whenever because it has multiple uses such as eliminating odor and yellow pigments from the water. I would seed both the tank and refugium with copepods and i would get those two going soon, theres no care for copepods they eat detritus and some forms of phytoplankton so they'll be fine in the tank.

 

[O'l Salty]

Carbon, chaeto and pods now. Skip the GFO for until you know how to test for Po4 accurately. r

 

[Jason mack]

I would add GFO when you see a rise in Phosphate levels, Carbon can be used whenever because it has multiple uses such as eliminating odor and yellow pigments from the water. I would seed both the tank and refugium with copepods and i would get those two going soon, theres no care for copepods they eat detritus and some forms of phytoplankton so they'll be fine in the tank.

+1

 

[ItsAName]

Even if the tank is just started will there be enough detritus in the tank for the copepods?

 

[Jason mack]

Yes if you've been phantom feeding

 

[ItsAName]

Makes sense, thank you