New tank when to add live plants?

[scifixtion]

I am setting up my 75 gallon reef tank; with refugium & protein skimmer, today.

Which means I'm adding the saltwater & live sand today. I'll add the live rock later. And I understand after reading many threads on here; I can not add any fish or coral till I run through a nitrogen cycle which can be 5 or 6 weeks from now. I know you can add cleaning crew sooner.

Something I haven't found on here is when do I add the live plants to the refugium? Should I add them when I add the live rock? Or after the nitrogen cycle? Or after I add fish 6 weeks down the road?

[okiestranger]

Hello and welcome.

I can't tell you when the best time to and plants to your refugium. But I can advise you not to add clean up crew until after your tank cycles. I think snail are sensitive to high nitrates. Good luck happy reefing.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Ditto. No higher life forms should be added until after the cycle is complete. Additionally, you should wait a couple more weeks after the cycle is done to ensure stable conditions

[scifixtion]

Ditto. No higher life forms should be added until after the cycle is complete. Additionally, you should wait a couple more weeks after the cycle is done to ensure stable conditions

I always planned on waiting till I see the nitrogeon cycle before adding Any creatures. I read most cycle happen in 4-5 weeks, then I will add cleaning crew 1st (what I meant by adding them early) because I'm not adding any fish till I go through 2 full nitrogoen cycle. I'm going super slow even if take till summer before I can add my 1st fish.

When it is time do you think it's better to add coral 1st then fish or fish 1st then coral?

[Matities23]

you could add the algae within a week after the tank is set up. IMO you should acclimate it to ur tank. I would wait till ur tank gets dirty enough to feed the cleaning crew. They will starve. I would place corals first ( small frags) before fishes. But before doing that, play around the Mg,Ca and Alk levels.
Could you give us more info about ur tank? Flow,lights etc? Picture will make it easier.
I would suggest making and posting a wishlist of fish here so we could give you our opinion and experince w those fishes.
Well good luck and keep on reefing!!