not sure if my tank is mature since i think mature is a relative term. no one's tank is mature comparing it to the ocean.
i agree it should be replace with stable as being the term.
i agree it should be replace with stable as being the term.
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This right here.I think my tank is mature enough now.
After you get through the stage where the corals are growing enough that you don't have any of those "coral plugs" showing and coral is naturally growing on rocks so you can't move them, you have a good supply of "mulm" or dying algae, sponges, etc. in the dark recesses and in the back.
Things are spawning and you have no idea what you are seeing in the caves, fish only die from jumping out or old age. Antenna are sticking out from many of the pores in the rock. When you turn off the lights you can see tiny "plankton" creatures swimming towards the surface or scurrying under the rocks.
Then the tank is mature.
The best way to get a great number of biodiversity is by keeping an eye in your local LFS for fresh corals on LR. They normally full of life. It doesn’t have to be large a small piece of rock will contain billions of bacteria and other organisms and if the conditions are right they will multiply really fast.What's your reccomendation for acquiring that sort of fauna in a dry dock tank without access to live rock?
I was thinking about asking my LFS for any kind of rock or rubble they had had lying around in tanks or sumps for that reason.The best way to get a great number of biodiversity is by keeping an eye in your local LFS for fresh corals on LR. They normally full of life. It doesn’t have to be large a small piece of rock will contain billions of bacteria and other organisms and if the conditions are right they will multiply really fast.
That’s a good idea as long as the rock isn’t on fish only sets. I tent to get this sort of things from coral only tray as it’s less risky to bring pests also fish only tanks can contain copper in the rock and eventually leach on to the tank water. If you trying for a mandarin please avoid inserting amphipods to the tank as they will prey the copepods populationI was thinking about asking my LFS for any kind of rock or rubble they had had lying around in tanks or sumps for that reason.
Also pondered buying some copepods to jumpstart that kind of culture as I'm pretty set on wanting a Mandarin, even if the LFS sells ones that eat non-live foods.
YesThanks to @jfoahs04 for the QOTD idea!
We hear the term "mature reef" thrown around a lot within reefing discussion and it seems that the maturity level of your tank is a level in which good or bad things happen. What types of livestock you can keep, whether or not you have to keep fighting algae, etc. But what makes a tank mature and how do you know when you get there? Let's talk about it!
1. What does having a mature reef tank mean and how long does it take?
2. Would you consider your tank to be a mature reef, why and why not?
image via @MJC
Which ones should I aim for and which should I avoid?If you trying for a mandarin please avoid inserting amphipods to the tank as they will prey the copepods population
You should aim for copepods, https://reefbuilders.com/2017/01/25/paul-bs-unique-perspective-on-keeping-mandarins/ this is a good method to keep at hand if you run out out of pods I tried it myself and works as a treat.Which ones should I aim for and which should I avoid?
It is undefinable. If you look at some of the Aquabiomics data - there is tremendous variation between successful tanks. Suggesting that - maturity is a bit of a myth (IMO).1. What does having a mature reef tank mean and how long does it take?
Yes, since it not a definable term - its fine - everything is growing and doing well. IMHO - if I was listing 10 things on whats important for a tank whether 1 day or 20 years old - one of the least of the 10 would be 'maturity'.2. Would you consider your tank to be a mature reef, why and why not?
And God created Paul Bs tank on the 8th day and saw that it was good.Oh Darn. I thought mine was mature. Maybe in a few more years.