ATM - Colony

Amy Yates · Mar 5, 2018

So if you use ATM colony how do you know;

when it's ready or if it's not?
When can you add fish?
Do I test the water?
Do I add live rock now

These are questions we see asked regularly so what's everyone's opinions/answers on these above?

EmdeReef · Mar 5, 2018

Amy Yates said:
So if you use ATM colony how do you know;

when it's ready or if it's not?
When can you add fish?
Do I test the water?
Do I add live rock now

These are questions we see asked regularly so what's everyone's opinions/answers on these above?

You will have to test and wait until the cycle completes before adding fish, I.e. ammonia reaches zero. Yes, you should add live rock before adding bacteria.

I don’t think adding products like colony cycles the tank instantly although can greatly reduce the time it takes to cycle, from weeks to days. You should also make sure to add a source of ammonia after adding the bacteria, a raw shrimp or fish food should do.

scott11106 · Mar 5, 2018

test and wait, test and wait and as above get ammonia to zero.
tell us about your tank and post a couple pics.
do you have a sump? sand bed? live rock in and if it is not in where is it?

Jesterrace · Mar 5, 2018

I guess it's just me, but I haven't found any bacteria seeding type product that is anything more than snake oil. Both times I tried to use Aqua Vitro Seed it has failed me. Outside of cured rock, or seeding with a piece of cured rock, I don't see anyway of cheating the natural cycling process.