New tank cycled- have i missed anything besides Pods?

[5thgear]

So we were in the hobby in the 80;s 90s its all different now,
cycled the tank without fish, lights off, now going to add pods to the tank which seems like a good thing to do to help with the ugly phase.

Have i missed anything? is there anything besides pods i need to consider? we will add a couple of clowns and cuc this week.
but through my reading i almost missed the Pods and dont want to miss anything else in this stage that may help get this new tank established
tank is red sea 300g2+
ai 16 lights
reef mat
ai nero

have been testing each night keeping track in one of the apps

no skimmer yet

 

[Llyod276]

Did you add bacteria? Noticing growth of algea yet? Let's see, ghost feeding to an extent?

 

[Uncle99]

So we were in the hobby in the 80;s 90s its all different now,
cycled the tank without fish, lights off, now going to add pods to the tank which seems like a good thing to do to help with the ugly phase.

Have i missed anything? is there anything besides pods i need to consider? we will add a couple of clowns and cuc this week.
but through my reading i almost missed the Pods and dont want to miss anything else in this stage that may help get this new tank established
tank is red sea 300g2+
ai 16 lights
reef mat
ai nero

have been testing each night keeping track in one of the apps

no skimmer yet

One time add of pods is great….but feed the system with a dash of live phyto weekly and ensure your nitrate and phosphate is stable and available in the traditional bands.

This will allow for those pods (and everyone else) to grow in numbers.

These populations are what keeps rocks clean and sand white, without any help from you.

It’s the stuff we can’t see that’s the most beneficial.

 

[BigAl07]

I started adding PODS fairly early on and I am confident that played a big part in avoiding the "Ugly" stage all together.

Be warned, culturing Pods & Phyto can be a hobby in and of itself. I enjoy culturing Pods & Phyto way more than I should and have gone kind of overboard with mine. I'm able to add a fresh pint of pods & phyto each and every day, IF I WANT TO (not that I do but I could) lol. I'm now giving Pods & Phyto to several local reefers routinely. You come to my house to visit and if you have a Reef Tank you'll leave with a bottle of Pods and one of Phyto.

 

[Lavey29]

Wish you were my neighbor

 

[Lavey29]

OP sounds like you are off to a good start. Leave lights off first 3 months or so and let your tank develop biodiversity and microfauna. Fish don't need lights. Then when you turn lights on and add corals your subsequent ugly phases will be more manageable. If you can add a few pieces of live wet ocean rock and you will turbo charge your biome.

 

[PotatoPig]

Do you have fish in there?

Does the tank startup include live rock or was it started from dry rock?

What critters (snails, crabs, etc)) have you added?

Will the tank be fish only or include corals?

What type of pods do you plan to add?

 

[Dan_P]

So we were in the hobby in the 80;s 90s its all different now,
cycled the tank without fish, lights off, now going to add pods to the tank which seems like a good thing to do to help with the ugly phase.

Have i missed anything? is there anything besides pods i need to consider? we will add a couple of clowns and cuc this week.
but through my reading i almost missed the Pods and dont want to miss anything else in this stage that may help get this new tank established
tank is red sea 300g2+
ai 16 lights
reef mat
ai nero

have been testing each night keeping track in one of the apps

no skimmer yet

You have the basics. Pods benefit could be a myth but if you feel better throw them in.

 

[5thgear]

Did you add bacteria? Noticing growth of algea yet? Let's see, ghost feeding to an extent?

yes i should have said i added the bacteria and amonnia and did the fishless cycle with the lights off

Uncle99 - I think you hit on exactly what i needed i dont know anything about phyto so i will start researching that,, appreciate you all