it's taken 3 years...

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Magnum Man

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... to make my 4 main tanks to achieve the look I had in my minds eye, and completely mature... I think these 4 look amazing... it's a good thing I have several others that are not there yet, and one more in this group to clean out and refill, and my big tank yet to place and fill, lest I'd get bored with the hobby... there are a lot of "out of box" ideas incorporated, but there could be nothing better than sitting here and drinking my morning caffeine, and watching these 4 tanks...

are you there yet, with any of your tanks???and how long did it take???
I'd suspect it took me longer, as I was fighting water issues, and it's a group of tanks, that pretty much display as one...
 
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I have four tanks in my office: African, South American, Livebearer and Asian. At this point in time they are complete. I just prune plants from time to time. I do need to add more Alestopetersius caudalis to the five I already have. One tetra disappeared in the tank. The body was never recovered. I have two “grow out” tanks in our bedroom. I have no plans for changing them. I have a tank for two Dwarf African frogs in the kitchen and a new quarantine tank in the basement. When I purchase more Alestopetersius caudalis, they will inaugurate the quarantine tank.
 
I consider my tanks as established when the nitrogen cycle is completely buckled up including denitrification. between 8-12 months.

Then In addition of that I consider them be "mature" when you cant move a thing without moving the whole block and the plants have laced everything together. 1-3 years.

Beyond this point, I call it ripening and that requires interventions, that really s* to do, loll.

A little like what you're doing now....
 
I consider my tanks as established when the nitrogen cycle is completely buckled up including denitrification. between 8-12 months.

Then In addition of that I consider them be "mature" when you cant move a thing without moving the whole block and the plants have laced everything together. 1-3 years.

Beyond this point, I call it ripening and that requires interventions, that really s* to do, loll.

A little like what you're doing now....
:rofl:
That's exactly why I just re-booted my two. They had got to over-ripe. People still commented that the community tank looked great - but once I started a little tidy up it pretty much all had to go.
 
... to make my 4 main tanks to achieve the look I had in my minds eye, and completely mature... I think these 4 look amazing... it's a good thing I have several others that are not there yet, and one more in this group to clean out and refill, and my big tank yet to place and fill, lest I'd get bored with the hobby... there are a lot of "out of box" ideas incorporated, but there could be nothing better than sitting here and drinking my morning caffeine, and watching these 4 tanks...

are you there yet, with any of your tanks???and how long did it take???
I'd suspect it took me longer, as I was fighting water issues, and it's a group of tanks, that pretty much display as one...
Shoot! I don't even have water in my new tank yet and I'm still in turmoil. ;) All I know for sure is that I'll have a fairly high water flow to make Panda Garry happy but not too high of a flow to keep Ember Tetras happy.

All I know for certain is that I'll have under-gravel filtration with four risers; two air and two 127 GPH power-heads cut back some. Substrate will be river pebbles. Old tank is still going to keep plants good but I'm still figuring what else will be in the setup. Plants are easy as I already have very healthy swords, Anubias and java ferns along with what I believe to be a crypt so that is pretty much covered. I also have some wood to which I may or may not add more.

One of the biggest decisions I'll need to make is whether or not to use a fake tree trunk I have in the old tank that also serves as a cave system. With the Pandas and Tetras I don't really need caves but the thing is tall and might be good as a water flow break for the Tetras giving eddy's, backwaters... whatever you want to call it,,, to give the Tetras some calmer areas. On the other hand I like slate especially with a river pebble substrate so may see if a local garden center has some broken slate pieces they want to sell cheap. I guess that I'll probably start with the fake trunk to see if I like and also get some slate so I can try both ways to see what I like.

LOL! I guess it boils down to my being at the very beginning of your ending. ;) Personally I don't ever really consider a tank done, just stable. BTW, The old tank is a 20 gallon cube and the new a 21 gallon high. I just don't have space for anything larger.
 

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