What is a Berlin System?
Let us start by stating that the Berlin method will only work well with saltwater marine reef aquariums, as it is totally dependant on the use of live rock and the lighting systems used to support a living-reef closed aquatic ecosystem. Each year, more and more live-reef aquarium enthusiasts are setting up new tanks or converting existing aquariums to the Berlin method of filtration. The Berlin method was discovered by hobbyists in Germany (surprise!), hence the source of the name. It works on the concept that all of the microorganisms necessary to support a marine reef aquarium can be found in and on live rock collected from the ocean. This includes aerobic, facultative anaerobic, and purely-anaerobic bacteria, many other microorganisms, algae, and filter-feeding sessile invertebrates. The only commercial filtration used is a high-quality protein skimmer. Most live rock are pieces of coral reef that break off as a result of storms and strong wave action where it collects in relatively
