When to Add a Refugium to my new tank

[H-TownMike]

I am almost completed with cycling my tank. I want to add a refugium to help control nitrates and phosphates. So when is the best time to add this to my system? I have a 10G tank that I am not using planning on adding the sump kit from amazon to it for minor filtration but mostly as a refugium. I'm worried that if i start it too soon then the chaeto could die off and cause way more issues that it will solve in the long run.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

You can but I wouldn't personally. You should wait and see what your PO4 and NO3 levels are. No reason to add another system if they stay optimal. If they continue to rise and your livestock hasn't changed nor feedings. Then I can see a refugium being beneficial.

And yes chaeto will die off if your nutrients plummet.

 

[H-TownMike]

You can but I wouldn't personally. You should wait and see what your PO4 and NO3 levels are. No reason to add another system if they stay optimal. If they continue to rise and your livestock hasn't changed nor feedings. Then I can see a refugium being beneficial.

And yes chaeto will die off if your nutrients plummet.

Ok I am going to wait and see what everything looks like once i get some fish in there. thank you