Mature vs Cycled Rock

[ThisIsTheWay]

Hey reef2reef fam, so I have noticed a few threads recently where people talked about adding ‘mature’ rock to their system, but the rocks still look white and bare in pictures. Part of the discussions typically touched on how new the rocks or tank looked and it was also clear that some of these rocks were going through the ugly stages still. It looked more like cycled rocks than mature rocks with established micro biomes.

So here’s my question to all of you:
When do YOU consider rock ‘mature’?

Personally, I feel like the rock needs good stuff growing on it before I consider it mature.
For sump rocks this would be sponges, filter feeders, etc.
For display rock, coralline algae, maybe sponges, other stuff that shows the rock is clearly alive and has an established micro biome of stuff actively living and growing on its surface.

 

[BryanM]

Personally, I feel like the rock needs good stuff growing on it before I consider it mature.

I agree with this.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What about rocks in a fish only tank with non-reef lights?
For me mature means able to support the desired bioload.

 

[ThisIsTheWay]

What about rocks in a fish only tank with non-reef lights?
For me mature means able to support the desired bioload.

That’s a valid point, I forget about FOWLR tanks sometimes. I’d agree with you on that definition, I was originally thinking of reef tanks when I originally posted.