Mature Tank Water?

[Benauld]

Having answered a post in another thread I was wondering, when exactly is tank water considered fully mature? I mean is it just a matter of time, for example X months after your cycle has finished your water is mature? When it can carry X amount of oxygen it is mature? When it harbours more bacteria strains than a three week old, unrefrigerated chicken thigh it is mature!?

I'd appreciate peoples opinions on this, as it is a term that gets bandied about on the forums quite a bit. Can anybody advise others, newbies especially, exactly what it is?

 

[Tolak]

The water doesn't mature, the tank, media, and other things in the tank actually mature. Check out biological exclusion in this topic; http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=107912&hl=

 

[Benauld]

Sorry that's my poor use of terminology! However, that being the case, cycling could be considered an accelerated maturing exercise?

But I have seen many instances of people advising not to get species this or species that until your tank is fully mature. What I'm asking is how do you know when your tank if fully matured and capable of sustaining said species, is it time dependent, does your biofilm have to be Xmm thick, etc?

 

[Tolak]

Actually cycling would be the beginning of the maturation process. The maturation process is time dependant, as it takes an amount of time for the bio film to grow.

 

[TerraDreamer]

I'll spend two cents and say 4 to 6 months after the tank has fully cycled and has remained stable. Rams come to mind when considering a "mature" tank.