Jeremy is on hand to help one of our readers with cycling a new marine aquarium.
I’m just about to set up my first nano reef tank. After some research I decided on buying a Fluval Evo. My aim is to keep a pair of clowns and some soft corals. I intend to use natural sea water (NSW) bought from my local fish store, live sand, and Indonesian live rock.
Do I still need to add a bacteria starter? I was going to use Dr Tim's One & Only Live Nitrifying Bacteria and Ammonia Solution (pictured below). Or would there already be sufficient bacteria present in the NSW, live sand and live rock to aid cycling without adding a bacteria starter product?
I’m worried that adding the ammonia product, which requires a large dosage straight off, may have a negative impact on the newly introduced Indonesian live rock if its existing bacteria population is recovering from import and transportation to my tank. Given the cost of the live rock, I want to prevent any mistakes.
TOM
Jeremy's Advice on Cycling a Marine Aquarium
If you are using live sand and live rock you shouldn’t need bottled bacteria, as the rock and sand will contain millions of diverse and beneficial bacteria. There are some caveats, however.
Newly imported live rock will not be ‘cured’ – the term given to the practice of soaking and rinsing live rock that experiences die-off from collection and shipping – and that in itself can cause an ammonia spike. Source well-cured live rock, or you will need to cure the rock yourself with lots of heavy protein skimming and large regular water changes until all the die-off has disappeared. The presence of new, desirable coralline algae growth is a good sign that things are on the right track.
However, heavy skimming won’t be possible in a tank as small as the Fluval Evo. Therefore, your best bet is to source cured live rock that is ready to go.
Related article: Which nano reef tank is best for a bedroom?
Arm yourself with test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate. If any ammonia is present, then it shows that the rock is not fully cured, and you must wait until the water is testing at zero before adding any fish. High phosphates can also be a sign of die-off in live rock, so monitor that too.
A powerful wave pump can also help with uncured live rock. The fast, variable, water flow helps to provide good circulation, keeping the rock aerated and lifting off sediments.
Related article: Back to saltwater: starting simple with corals.
Did you know? Macroalgae can help!
Macroalgae can also help to cycle a reef tank, introducing bacteria and critters, while also utilising ammonia, nitrate and phosphate as they grow. In nano tanks you can place them in the display – something that is becoming a popular trend – but in larger tanks they can be added to in the sump in a refugium section.
Related article: Colourful gobies for your nano reef.