How long until a tank matures?

sillycupid · Jan 25, 2015

Hello! I have been creeping on this site for a very long time, on and off the hobby due to school and work. Right now I have established pico tanks (2.2 gallon cubes by truaqua.com, check them out, they're awesome). I am into pico's due to their easy maintenance (water changes weekly, evaporation top off). What I really want is a 50 gallon plus. I want to drop money for a one time big purchase (already have my dream list of equipment and specs). Now that you have my background, here is my question:

How many months does it take for a tank to mature?

By maturity I mean you can place a frag into the tank and it will have a grand old time growing and getting its coral grove on. Given that your parameters are in order and you have the right equipment.

I am transferring to a university in a year, still in California but far enough that I will have to move. I'm not sure if I will be living on campus (limited to a 5 gallon tank) or renting (which would allow me to keep the large tank). I do not want to get my dream 50+ if I have to suddenly sell it due to not being able to care for it. I would not mind tearing it down (removing livestock, keeping it cycled) for a semester and coming back.

Scout · Jan 25, 2015

2.2 gallon tank, 200 times harder, than a 200 gallon tank.

Less water means less room for mistakes.

BigDaddyStar · Jan 25, 2015

There's alot of variables in that answer.

The short answer is about 30 days. That being the nitrogen cycle has completed. This would be a fresh setup with new water. Sand. And mostly dry rock with some live rock to seed it.
This however is a tank you will most likely battle cyano dinos and other nuisance algaes. About 6 months to fully dial in I would say.

Then the other method. Live sand mostly new water. All Live rock with a little dry for base rock. And borrowing someone's water change to get it going immediately.
This is a tank that is ready for corals pretty much as soon as it fills with water and settles.

Different people prefer each method and I have done both. Can't say I have a favorite over the other.

Just a matter of what you want and what your budget is and which is actually going to work best for you.

Dragon3435 · Jan 25, 2015

If your talking about not running heavy filter and other mechanical devices and let things run naturally I say 1.5 to 2 years. Just like nature it takes time for everything to adapt to a environment.

e92Monster · Jan 25, 2015

i would say about a good year.....

rayray · Jan 25, 2015

Imo the bigger the tank the longer. Several cycles have to complete & be in stable equilibrium with everything; must also be growing plankton, pods & the other fauna before added coral will thrive & not just survive. 2.2 gallons im estimating 1-2 months. My 180g i felt was not ready for 8months

Six2seven · Jan 27, 2015

A tank can go through the nitrogen cycle in 2-3 weeks. From then to two months you will see various cycles that can have little effect on sps. So you can add it then. But for a tank to fully mature, I would say about a year.

www.LAreefsociety.org

acbaldwin · Jan 27, 2015

I'd say six months to a year, depends on the tank.

JOSE CASAS · Jan 27, 2015

about a year....can be sooner or later depending on various variables.

waterman78 · Jan 27, 2015

Maturity in every tank is different. However, in the few tanks I set up my tank's maturity depended on the live rock and other biological filtration material I introduced into my tank. If you are placing uncured live rock into your tank, this process could take up to a year. However, if you're introducing cured live rock from another aquarium, this process should tank anywhere from 2 to 4 months. If your goal is to raise frags only, I would suggest that you wait for a little bit more than a year to not only establish your tank but also to learn about the species of coral and there habitat. Not all corals and frag will growth/flourish under the same conditions....I've found that most frags are very picky when it comes to growth and placement.

I hope this helps.

Larry

How long until a tank matures?

sillycupid

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Scout

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BigDaddyStar

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Dragon3435

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e92Monster

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rayray

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Six2seven

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JOSE CASAS

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