newbie ?s

**nu2fishes** · 01-02-2013, 05:16 AM

okay folks ~

newbie ? for new tank - 5 gal hex (marineland with 3 stage filtration) being set up to be a home for a betta. want it to be planted. have been lurking and read about cycling. noted a post while lurking, can't find it now of course, that indicated cycling not being needed for a planted tank. did i read / understand that correctly? do i cycle my planted tank? have the items suggested on the list for needed supplies, including my fresh water test kit

i await enlightenment, thanks a bunch

and HAPPY NEW YEAR

**Honey Badger 1** · 01-02-2013, 05:35 AM

Unless your tank is very heavily planted you will still need to cycle the tank. A "silent cycle" needs more plants than most of us have or are willing to have in our tanks.

**nu2fishes** · 01-02-2013, 05:56 AM

thanks a bunch

**Honey Badger 1** · 01-02-2013, 11:44 AM

You are welcome. Also keep in mind, I don't think it is so much that the plants actually cycle the tank, but they use up the ammonia as it is being produced by the fish. This is why the tank has to be so heavily planted and so lightly stocked. If the balance between fish and plants isn't exactly right, the fish will suffer ammonia and then nitrite poisoning.

**Hardy85** · 01-02-2013, 11:47 AM

The plants can actually be killed by high levels of ammonia or nitrites, so if there is no bacteria yet they can die off. I think you should cycle, then add plants

**Honey Badger 1** · 01-02-2013, 11:56 AM

It would take a huge amount of ammonia to kill off the plant, the fish would be long dead before the plants. I've fish-less cycled tanks with plants and bottled ammonia and the plants were fine with ammonia levels of 4ppm.