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The Aquarium Microbiome DNA Test reveals the balance of beneficial and harmful microbes that quietly shape the health and stability of your aquarium.
Analysed in our Australian lab using advanced DNA sequencing, it profiles the bacteria and archaea responsible for nutrient cycling, waste breakdown, biofilm formation, pathogenic disease, and microbial stability. This insight goes far beyond standard water tests, which cannot show whether your system is biologically balanced or drifting toward instability.
With a clear picture of your aquarium’s microbiome, you can make informed adjustments to husbandry, filtration, and feeding, helping prevent problems before they escalate and supporting a more resilient, consistent reef environment.
Discover the complete bacterial ecosystem in your aquarium with our NEW microbiome test. Get detailed insights into the health and balance of your marine ecosystem.
Your test kit arrives with everything you need
2. Collect Sample
Follow simple instructions to collect your sample
3. Ship Back
Use the prepaid label to send it back
4. We Analyze
Our lab analyzes your sample in detail
5. Get Results
Receive your comprehensive results report
Measures the overall richness of bacterial species in your aquarium. Higher diversity typically indicates a more stable, resilient ecosystem capable of handling stress and maintaining water quality. This metric serves as your tank's overall health score—diverse microbiomes resist disease, process nutrients efficiently, and create stable conditions for coral and fish.
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Visualizes the distribution of bacterial populations in your tank, showing which species dominate and which are rare. A healthy curve shows gradual decline rather than steep drops, indicating balanced competition without any single species overwhelming the system. This helps identify if your tank has good microbial balance or if problematic bacteria are dominating
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Identifies the dominant bacterial families present in your aquarium. Understanding which families are thriving helps predict tank behavior. Some families excel at nutrient processing, others at biofilm formation, disease suppression or disease causers. This breakdown reveals whether your tank's bacterial community aligns with healthy reef systems or if intervention is needed to shift the balance.
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Screens for harmful bacteria known to cause disease in fish, coral, and invertebrates. Detection of pathogenic species like Vibrio, Tenacibaculum, or Photobacterium allows you to take the correct action before outbreaks occur or treatment decisions. This is your early warning system for potential health crises, giving you time to quarantine, treat, or adjust conditions before livestock losses occur.
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Evaluates the nitrifying bacteria responsible for converting toxic ammonia to nitrite, then to nitrate. A robust biofilter community is essential for stable water parameters and livestock health. This analysis shows whether your biological filtration is mature, struggling, or in need of supplementation - critical information for new tanks, after medication use, or when troubleshooting persistent ammonia/nitrite issues.
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Detects and quantifies cyanobacteria populations and alerts you if an outbreak is likely. Some species can smother coral and release toxins. By identifying elevated levels early, you can adjust nutrient export, flow patterns, or lighting schedules to prevent the unsightly mats that plague many reef tanks. Know your cyano risk before it becomes a problem.
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Measures bacteria that break down organic waste: uneaten food, fish waste, dead organisms, and detritus. These microbes prevent toxic buildup and keep your tank clean at the microscopic level. A healthy population of waste degraders means efficient nutrient cycling. High levels suggest overfeeding, high bio-load or insufficient filtration. Low levels may explain persistent detritus or water clarity issues.
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Identifies bacteria that create biofilms on surfaces throughout your aquarium. While some biofilm is beneficial (providing grazing surfaces and nutrient processing), excessive biofilm isn't ideal and can trap detritus, reduce oxygen penetration, and harbor pathogens. This metric helps you understand if your biofilm community is in healthy level or if you need to increase flow, cleaning frequency, or add biofilm-grazing organisms.
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Assesses bacteria capable of breaking down complex pollutants including hydrocarbons, pollutants, and other organic compounds that can accumulate from food, additives, or environmental/domestic contamination. These specialists help maintain water quality beyond basic nitrogen cycling. A healthy pollutant-degrading community means your tank can handle the chemical complexity of modern reef keeping without toxic buildup. High population may suggest contamination.
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Evaluates bacteria involved in sulfur metabolism, including those that reduce sulphate to hydrogen sulphide (the rotten egg smell) and those that oxidize it back. Balanced sulphur cycling is crucial for deep sand beds and low-oxygen zones. Imbalances can lead to toxic hydrogen sulphide accumulation or indicate anaerobic dead zones. This analysis helps optimize your substrate depth and flow patterns for safe sulphur processing.
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Identifies bacteria that interact with algae, both those that promote algae growth and those that suppress it. Understanding these relationships helps explain persistent algae problems or unusually clean tanks. Some bacteria produce compounds that inhibit algae, while others create conditions that encourage growth and settlement.
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Measures the abundance of microbes that assimilate inorganic phosphate into their biomass including Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria (PNSB). These microbes help regulate phosphate availability by temporarily storing phosphorus, reducing the amount immediately available to fuel nuisance algae. Higher abundance indicates active biological phosphate uptake and buffering, while low abundance suggests limited microbial control of phosphate dynamics.
Everything you need to collect and send your sample
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Pre-paid express shipping satchel included
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Advanced laboratory testing of your aquarium microbiome
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Personalized advice based on your specific results
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Results delivered within 20-30 days from when your sample arrives at our laboratory.
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Your aquarium microbiome results & insights delivered directly to your email
WATCH here to see how to sample -> https://reeflabs.com.au/pages/sampling
