I'm new to the marine side of the hobby although I have a fairly good understanding of the basics of water chemistry and am learning a lot through reading and asking questions. The question I have now is this: I've read about Berlin systems and they seem like the way to go because even nitrates are broken down by anaerobic bacteria living within the rock resulting in a healthier tank, little need for water changes and an almost self-sustaining micro-ecology. Why, then, don't many of the people I speak to in the shop I work in even know what one is? Is it something beyond the reach of the average hobbyist or will good quality rock and patience get me there? I am prepared to sit out a good long cycle if that's all that is needed.
Live Rock and the Berlin system
- Thread starter sharkb8
- Start date
The term "berlin" is not often used these days, and different people mean different things by it. So it would be helpful if you describe exactly what you mean that the tank has.
Live rock is used in most any reef aquarium, and alone it rarely keeps nitrate at low enough levels. Phosphate is always a problem with live rock alone. Sand beds do a better job of denitrification, but has it potential drawbacks as well (collecting detritus that breaks down, etc). I like to use skimming and growing macroalgae in a refugium to keep nutrients under control,but there are many methods.
These articles may be useful:
Phosphorus: Algaeââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s Best Friend
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/chem.htm
Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm
Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm
Live rock is used in most any reef aquarium, and alone it rarely keeps nitrate at low enough levels. Phosphate is always a problem with live rock alone. Sand beds do a better job of denitrification, but has it potential drawbacks as well (collecting detritus that breaks down, etc). I like to use skimming and growing macroalgae in a refugium to keep nutrients under control,but there are many methods.
These articles may be useful:
Phosphorus: Algaeââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s Best Friend
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/chem.htm
Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm
Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm
When I started in '94, I saw a tape with Julian Sprung speaking of the use of the Berlin system. In the tape he described the Berlin system as being very simply, lots of QUALITY live rock, bare bottom, and an excellent protein skimmer. Nothing more, nothing less.
It must have been a big influence on me as over the years, I've had every system that has come along, but I much prefer that simple Berlin system and most of my seven systems today are bare bottom Berlin.
It must have been a big influence on me as over the years, I've had every system that has come along, but I much prefer that simple Berlin system and most of my seven systems today are bare bottom Berlin.
