Not an expert, but if you need a larger bacterial colony then just leave it. You need your tank to be able to handle a large feed and maintain zero ammonia. Zero is good in this case. And near zero on nitrates/phosphates. Your goal is to have tank water that doesn’t hurt fish or corals. Also, build up that microfauna, throw in what you can get your hands on. For example, now would be a good time to add some macroalgae such as chaeto. How bout some copepods (I favor tiger pods)? They would have a feast on the algae that will bloom, also the ciliates. If you have a friend with an established tank that keeps their tank in good order, would be a nice place to get a couple of pieces of live rock to get your bacterial colonies established faster. Remember that next to mechanical filtration, the more live rock you have the better off you will be in the long run. I’m also a fan of the micropore stone material that comes in blocks/cubes, spheres, cones and the like. Adds a bazillion square miles of surface area, plus very clean.
Good luck and if I can be of any assistance in your new journey, send me a PM. Also can be messaged at PaulsPods@PaulsPodsAZ
