Back in the 90's, I had several tanks including a 75 gal. reef and 200 gal. fish only tank. I have a question about the "Berlin Method". I don't recall if it was invented by Nielson, or Delbeek ? Anyway, I viewed a thread that the author said that with the Berlin Method, the bottom and no sand, just bare, no skimmer and relied just by live rock. if I recall correctly, (and I may have it confused by a different method) it did indeed have live sand, rock and a skimmer. The big difference was you elevated the bottom of the tank with 2" tall PVC pipe, place egg crate on them, then a sheet of window screening and 3" to 4" of live sand on top.
The main reason was below the sand level, a great amount of nitrifying bacteria would happen etc. When I applied this method to my 200 gal fish only tank with around 40 fish, after cycling, I had no registered amount of ammonia, nitrite and the big surprise, NO nitrate,....none, and it was also tested by my old friend Scott Michael, the author, photographer & shark and ray expert. If I have this confused with a different method, please let me know.
Anyway, whether it's from one of these guys or someone different, I'm asking if people still,... use this system and what your results are. I haven't seen or heard of anyone talking about it since I gave up the hobby back in the 90's. I'm now wanting to get back into it, so I have a lot of updating and researching to do before starting up again.
The main reason was below the sand level, a great amount of nitrifying bacteria would happen etc. When I applied this method to my 200 gal fish only tank with around 40 fish, after cycling, I had no registered amount of ammonia, nitrite and the big surprise, NO nitrate,....none, and it was also tested by my old friend Scott Michael, the author, photographer & shark and ray expert. If I have this confused with a different method, please let me know.
Anyway, whether it's from one of these guys or someone different, I'm asking if people still,... use this system and what your results are. I haven't seen or heard of anyone talking about it since I gave up the hobby back in the 90's. I'm now wanting to get back into it, so I have a lot of updating and researching to do before starting up again.
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