The start-up phase: Building the biological balance

The start-up phase: Building the biological balance

You now want your aquarium to develop a stable biological filter.

Starting the Nitrogen Cycle (Ripening)

You now want your aquarium to develop a stable biological filter . This process is also called "maturing" or "cycling" the aquarium. The goal: to grow beneficial bacteria that can convert waste products (such as ammonia and nitrite ) into less harmful nitrate .

How do you start the cycle?

• Add a bacteria starter (e.g. Nite-out from Microbe-lift,)
• Add an ammonia source to feed the bacteria (e.g. fish food, or ammonia drops)
• Let the tank run with current, heating and possibly a light day/night rhythm (light is still limited with fresh stone)
• Test ammonia , nitrite and nitrate levels regularly

Duration:

On average 2 to 4 weeks – depending on your tank, bacteria used and how much live rock there is.

Note when starting up with dead stone:

When you start your aquarium with only dead rock (such as ceramic reef rock or dry limestone), there is no microbial life or existing bacterial culture present. This means:

• The start-up phase can take significantly longer (sometimes 6 to 8 weeks or more)
• It is strongly recommended to work with powerful bacterial starters and extra nutrition for these bacteria
• The ecosystem develops more slowly, meaning it takes longer to become suitable for corals or sensitive animals

An alternative is to use a combination of live and dry stone to speed up the process and potentially reduce costs.