How to Cycle a Reef Aquarium Fishless

There are two methods to cycle your Marine or Reef Aquarium

First of all what does it mean to cycle an Aquarium?

Quik overview on topics that we will explain

Important Marine Aquarium Parameters

The first parameters you will test for are AmmoniaNitrite, and Nitrates as part of monitoring the initial nitrogen cycle.

Reef tank with a mix of fish and coral you want the specific gravity to be 1.023 – 1.025 or a salinity of 33ppt – 35ppt. If you want to keep a fish only tank, with no live coral you can lower the specific gravity to 1.020 – 1.025 or 30ppt – 35ppt.

How to setup and start an Marine Aquarium

Cycling is not simply a matter of allowing an aquarium to operate for some predetermined amount of time before adding fish or invertebrates. You can operate a new aquarium instantly with the available products in the market (expert only) or you will take your time to establish the biofilter in the Aquarium.

What method can be used for cycling the aquarium

One such method is adding ammonia (available in our shop) to the system. Another is feeding the tank—literally adding fish food on a daily basis and allowing it to decompose, thereby producing ammonia.

How long I need to wait for the first animals

We always suggest for beginner to wait 2-4 weeks to achieve the initial biofilm which is required for an healthy Aquarium start.

It is very important for whatever method is selected that Amonia, Nitrat is not measurable in water anymore using standard (Test Kits) or (Professional Digital Test Kits) to monitor parameters.

What I need before I start an Aquarium journey to be successful

One such method is adding ammonia (available in our shop) to the system. Another is feeding the tank—literally adding fish food on a daily basis and allowing it to decompose, thereby producing ammonia.

  1. Nitrogen Cycle – The Basics.

The Foundation of Cycling a Reef Tank Bacterial to best understand, let’s take a brief look at how this process is done in the wild. The Beginners Reef.com has a good detailed  explanation, here’s a rundown:

  • Atmospheric nitrogen is literally dissolved into seawater. This freshly dissolved element rests along the oceans surface. But in this state, it’s relatively useless for living organisms.
  • Bacteria within the ocean absorb nitrogen. This is when the magic happens. Bacteria converts nitrogen (N2) into ammonium (NH4+) in a process called nitrogen fixation. Without this conversion, no living creature could benefit from this fundamental element.
  • When this bacteria die and decompose, ammonium is released into the water, which is known as Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON) and Particulate Organic Nitrogen (PON).
  • Ammonium can also be converted into nitrites, and then ultimately nitrates. This is referred to as Nitrification.
  • Other organisms living in the water transform the DONs and PONs back into ammonium, which is known as Remineralization.
  • Lastly, to complete the nitrogen cycle, there are other forms of bacteria that convert the potentially harmful nitrite and nitrate back to its original form, nitrogen gas. This final stage is known as Denitrification.

Essentially, the core of the nitrogen cycle is bacteria. But not just any bacteria will do. As you can see, specific microbes convert and release nitrogen in a “dangerous” form, while others extract these compounds and reconvert them into a non-harmful element.

  1. Nitrogen Cycle – The Basics.

The Foundation of Cycling a Reef Tank Bacterial to best understand, let’s take a brief look at how this process is done in the wild. The Beginners Reef.com has a good detailed  explanation, here’s a rundown:

  • Atmospheric nitrogen is literally dissolved into seawater. This freshly dissolved element rests along the oceans surface. But in this state, it’s relatively useless for living organisms.
  • Bacteria within the ocean absorb nitrogen. This is when the magic happens. Bacteria converts nitrogen (N2) into ammonium (NH4+) in a process called nitrogen fixation. Without this conversion, no living creature could benefit from this fundamental element.
  • When this bacteria die and decompose, ammonium is released into the water, which is known as Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON) and Particulate Organic Nitrogen (PON).
  • Ammonium can also be converted into nitrites, and then ultimately nitrates. This is referred to as Nitrification.
  • Other organisms living in the water transform the DONs and PONs back into ammonium, which is known as Remineralization.
  • Lastly, to complete the nitrogen cycle, there are other forms of bacteria that convert the potentially harmful nitrite and nitrate back to its original form, nitrogen gas. This final stage is known as Denitrification.

Essentially, the core of the nitrogen cycle is bacteria. But not just any bacteria will do. As you can see, specific microbes convert and release nitrogen in a “dangerous” form, while others extract these compounds and reconvert them into a non-harmful element.

The nitrogen cycle in aquaculture systems and aquarium tanks. Ammonia is built up from fish excretion and uneaten food. Nitrosomonas , a bacterium, converts the ammonia into nitrite, which is converted into nitrate by nitrobacter , another bacterium. During both chemical conversions by the bacteria, H + is released causing a reduction in pH. A reduced pH will change ammonia into 

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Important Parameter Marine Aquarium

Temperature should be between 23 and 25 degree, the most important is to keep the temperature stable. Slightly increase or decrease on a long periode of time does not affect the biologic system to much.

PH should be between 8.0 and 8.3 and stability is important, however some of you have a lower PH below 8.0 and the reason can be low flow in the aquarium or increased Co2 in the air, therefore air exchange or a Co2 filter on the intake of the skimmer can stabilize this parameter.

Alkalinity should be 8.0 and 12.0, Alkalinity is consumed by the Aquarium and coral grow as well as the development of bacteria and can be adjusted by using a two or three parts system from Triton or Fritz

Ammonia NH4 should be almost zero on a working Aquarium, however during initial phase cycle period the Ammonia is always measurable but will disappear as soon as the nitrogen process is established.

Phosphate Po4 should be 0.05 and 0.2 depend on the animal and corals in the Aquarium. SPS dominated Aquarium are trying to keep the lower end and LPS dominated Aquarium are more healthy on the upper end of the above value.

Disclaimer for BlueMarineLife

If you require any more information or have any questions about our site’s disclaimer, please feel free to contact us by email at info@bluemarinelife.qa. Our Disclaimer was generated with the help of the Disclaimer Generator.

Disclaimers for BlueMarineLife

All the information on this website – www.bluemarinelife.qa – is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. BlueMarineLife does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website (BlueMarineLife), is strictly at your own risk. BlueMarineLife will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website.

From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone ‘bad’.

Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their “Terms of Service” before engaging in any business or uploading any information.

By using our website, you hereby consent to our disclaimer and agree to its terms.

Update

Should we update, amend or make any changes to this document, those changes will be prominently posted here.