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Live Rocks
Live Rock is a rock taken from the ocean thats going to introduced into your saltwater aquarium. A liverock is a skeletal remains of corals and will act as an ideal habitat for a wide varieties of organisms or microscopic marine life such as plants, animals, algae and invertebrates. It then becomes a “living rock”.
It is harvested and remains moistened to preserve most of the marine life living on it and for us hobbyist to enjoy!
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Not all the organisms living in this rock are desirable therfore we need go though the curing process.
This will usually take 3-5 weeks, which during the curing process undesirable animals that are often hidden in the rock are attempted to be removed.
Most of the life form on the living rock are expected to die off leaving behind the more beneficial nitrifying bacteria survives this process.
It offers a couple of benefits to your saltwater aquarium as the functions as a natural biological filter required for the nitrogen cycle. It provides a natural food source for some saltwater fish and creates a natural foundation for live corals or other decorations to live on.
We can aquascape our aquarium by building caves, arches, overhangs and other structures.
It also stabilize the water chemistry, helping to maintain constant pH by release of calcium.
It also becomes your decoration especially when it is covered with multiple colors of coralline algae.
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
Nitrogen Cycle- the process
When you have completed setting up your saltwater aquarium, you can begin to add some hardy saltwater fish such as damselfish – popular fish if you are nitrogen cycle your aquarium and feed them regularly as this will begin the process.
Another alternative is live rock because dying matter in the live rock produces the ammonia source that you require. Ammonia level will rise rapidly because you do not have the adequate concentration of the right types of bacteria. Then the fish will become stressed and discomforted such as rapid breathing.
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The first stage of bacteria are now beginning to start and after a couple days the ammonia levels will peak then begin to drop. Now the ammonia levels will reach zero as the first stage bacteria will convert to Nitrite.
Now nitrite levels will begin to rise and if your fish are not strong they wont last past this stage.
A few more weeks or so later, nitrite level will reach its peak. Your saltwater fish again will show signs of stress. Small water changes of up to one fifth will help protect the saltwater fish against toxic chemicals in the water during nitrogen cycle.
Second stage bacteria are established and will multiply. Nitrite level will then drop and nitrate becomes detectable.
First and second stage bacteria are now established at this point of the cycle and will be able to keep up with the ammonia created from the fish, turning it into nitrate and then quickly converting it into nitrate.
The saltwater aquarium tank should now be fully cycled. You can now slowly start adding more livestock in your aquarium and allow the bacteria to work.
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
Nitrogen Cycle in Saltwater Aquariums
It has many names Nitrogen cycle, cycling, nitrification, biological cycle, startup cycle, break-in cycle – its what all aquariums need to undergo this process. Basically the nitrogen cycle is when beneficial bacteria are established in your saltwater aquarium.
We will discuss and learn how it works, how long it will take to get the cycle completed, ways you can do to cycle the saltwater aquarium and the important function the nitrogen process plays in keeping your saltwater aquarium working properly.
The process of the nitrogen cycle can take from 2 weeks or longer, there is no exact time frame as each aquarium set up is different.
Factors that determine where you are in the process are based on how many fish or other livestock, and organic matter you have in your aquarium.
The three components that are involved are ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Test your water often during the process and log your readings. This will tell you what phase the aquarium is in.
The best way to monitor the nitrogen cycle process is by usng a saltwater test kit that will test the three components involve in the process.
Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide
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