"Established" Tank

[fishn808]

Exactly what does this mean and how will I know when my tank is "established"? I started mine 11/06.
TIA

 

[royal gang]

Yeah, I'm curious also, mine is about 10 months old, I am pretty upset that my coralline is hardly starting to grow and on my power heads only wtf...

 

[dogstar]

Though I dont appreciate some of the abbreviations, I try to help anyway...
IMO, It is when the noticable natural reprodution of plankton like copepods and amthipods and other critters like worms and starfish, ect. is accurring and prospering.

 

[shrimpi]

usually one year is a basic guideline, but if you are looking to house a certain animal, the word 'established' can vary depending on that animals needs.
As for the coralline, if you are lacking calcium in your system, it doesnt matter if youve had the tank for a year or so... it needs calcium.
Try dripping kalk or something.
My tank was started 1/07 and it has tons of critters and coralline. The coralline spreads like a weed. I consider my tank somewhat established just because of the biological balance and growth, not necessarily just time.

 

[stanlalee]

established basically means when you have reached sort of an equalibrium where whats going to die off has all died off and whats going to bloom has already bloomed and then you reach the point where everything that will be sustained is pretty much reproducing and maintaining at a steady predictable rate (this includes the live fauna and algae). By then your water parameters will be stable as well mostly because of the above has taken place.

 

[royal gang]

My calcium is at 320

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by ROYAL GANG
My calcium is at 320
That's pretty low if you've got coral, etc. I'd recommend getting that number up around 450.

 

[royal gang]

Originally Posted by m0nk
That's pretty low if you've got coral, etc. I'd recommend getting that number up around 450.
Working on it, did water change 2 days ago