Just Curious

[madmom]

In reading through the topics I come across the phrase "needs a well established tank". About how long does a tank run before it is considered well established?

 

[hawk]

I would say prob more than 6 months....

 

[The-Wolf]

to me a well established tank is one that has been stable for more than 3 months;
by stable I mean there has been no major fluctuations in the parameters or unatural death of the inhabitants.

 

[chibi]

I think it varies from tank to tank. If your tank has been cycled for atleast 3 months, you haven't had waves of fish deaths, and your chemical balances (nitrates, ammonia, etc.) are stable, then I'd consider it well-established. Personally, it took me about 8 months to consider mine well-established.

 

[020292]

To me i think it is a tank with almost perfect numbers and colors for the water params for more thn 3 months and all the animals living in it are healthy and there has been no deaths for at least 3 months.

We all have different opinions and to really know what it means to have a well established tank, you would have to ask who ever posted it what they think a well established tank is. Good luck and let me know if you need help.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

to me a well established tank is one that has been stable for more than 3 months;
by stable I mean there has been no major fluctuations in the parameters or unatural death of the inhabitants.

If you cycle it with fish though, most tanks like that will have barely stablilised their water quality by then- a lot can even be cycling even at 3months mature.


I would generally consider a tank that has been set up for 6months and has had perfect water quality for a long time to be stable and established.
Its not just about water quality though- there are thousands of little micro organisms swimming around in the tank water. These are especially important for many filter/fan feeding shrimp as these sorts of shrimp feed off these organisms, which only tend to bloom in high enough quantities for the shrimp to happily feed on after 6months of the tank being set up. Its why i'd never advise something like an armoured shrimp for a tank under 6months mature as a lot of these shrimp just tend to starve in younger and less established tank set ups.

 

[raptorrex]

i would say six months plus! lol i think you can feel it!!! its part of the reason things don't stick to the glass well any more. if you move items around in an established tank you can feel the deposits. next time you do a water change, run your finger up the tank, from below the evaporation line, to the new water level, you can feel the difference!