maturing an aquarium

[Nick123]

Hi everyone, I am in the process of setting up a cool custom tank and I really want to age it properly before adding fish. stocking is tentative but will be some dwarf cichlids, small tetras, 2 or 3 small plecos/sucker mouth catfish, and maybe some other cool biotopeish fish. does anyone have any suggestions in how to age my aquarium properly or how long to wait to make sure the tank is fully mature? Thanks!

 

[MacZ]

There is no how-to really. It mostly just takes time. The rest depends on the tank's individual specifics

But it's possible to give you some hints if you tell us what kind/amounts of substrate, botanicals, wood and plants you are aiming for. Also what type (not brand) of filter and light? What tank dimensions?

Just one sidenote about Plecos and catfish:

Catfish in Apisto Tanks

What are good choices of catfish for an Apisto tank? I was thinking more along the lines of an algae eater or something to clean up uneaten food. Most Cories seem too large or meddlesome.

apistogramma.com

 

[Nick123]

There is no how-to really. It mostly just takes time. The rest depends on the tank's individual specifics

But it's possible to give you some hints if you tell us what kind/amounts of substrate, botanicals, wood and plants you are aiming for. Also what type (not brand) of filter and light? What tank dimensions?

Just one sidenote about Plecos and catfish:

Catfish in Apisto Tanks

What are good choices of catfish for an Apisto tank? I was thinking more along the lines of an algae eater or something to clean up uneaten food. Most Cories seem too large or meddlesome.

apistogramma.com

Tank is 12 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and 5 feet 8 inches long. I work at a store and we were redoing one of our systems and the tank came in with a scratch, so I took it. Filtration is a sump and lighting will be two kessils I have from a tank I had a while ago. I plan on using some ADA power sand as a base layer and covering it with Sera sand. Tank will have lots of wood and botanicals as well as plants.

 

[MacZ]

Not very deep and high... the height is not a problem to the fish, the depth may pose one, though. Territorial fish like dwarf cichlids might have trouble dividing the tank among each other. On the other hand you'll be able to easily put in sight blocks.

I plan on using some ADA power sand as a base layer and covering it with Sera sand.

Just stick to any standard sand without any fertilizers. The layer of mulm that will form from leaf litter and botanicals will provide a lot of nutrients once it has firmly established. Also this type of tank is not really suitable for many substrate based plants. The unavoidable tint of the water is a problem for many plants that will simply not grow due to lack of light, even in a shallow tank. Instead I'd pick plants with a tendency to cheat: Floaters, floating leaves, (semi-)emersed plants. I think a tank of these dimensions will look great covered in Monstera and Epipremnum. If you need any fertilizers, use liquid ones that you simply add to the water column and try to close in on minimal ferts from the low end. Depending on the ultimate choice and amounts of plants I'd presume you may get away with less than 20ml a months once the tank has seasoned properly.

All in all, as you describe it and with some small alterations, it will likely take 6-8 months until you can call the tank somewhat seasoned.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Just stick to any standard sand without any fertilizers. The layer of mulm that will form from leaf litter and botanicals will provide a lot of nutrients once it has firmly established. Also this type of tank is not really suitable for many substrate based plants. The unavoidable tint of the water is a problem for many plants that will simply not grow due to lack of light, even in a shallow tank. Instead I'd pick plants with a tendency to cheat: Floaters, floating leaves, (semi-)emersed plants. I think a tank of these dimensions will look great covered in Monstera and Epipremnum. If you need any fertilizers, use liquid ones that you simply add to the water column and try to close in on minimal ferts from the low end.

What @MacZ says. You might be interested in the <"Duckweed Index">, it is a simple technique for maintaining water quality using a floating plant as both <"nutrient level indicator and nutrient reducer">.

All in all, as you describe it and with some small alterations, it will likely take 6-8 months until you can call the tank somewhat seasoned.

Same again, basically "good things come to those who wait". I've just called it <"plants and time">, but it has had a bit of publicity as <"seasoned tank time">.

In microbial terms (I'm not keen on the term "cycled" or the concept of "cycling" as a binary switch between "unsafe" and "fish safe") this conversation may be of interest as well: <"https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/correspondence-with-dr-ryan-newton-school-of-freshwater-sciences-university-of-wisconsin—milwaukee.71023/">.

cheers Darrel

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
I'll put this here: On UKAPS we've recently talked to Josh Neufeld, a scientist from the The University of Waterloo and also a fish keeper.
<"Strangers in your home: Archaea thrive in aquarium biofilters – Dr Josh D Neufeld"> pages 14 - 20.

This is the UKAPS thread. I know the "microbes that perform nitrification" is a bit of a niche interest, but it is an interesting thread.
<"https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads...the-neufeld-lab-university-of-waterloo.75477/">.

cheers Darrel