Cycling and Plants...

[*Sarah*]

Ok, so I got a NEW 10 Gal that I'm planning to make into a planted aquarium :) I want only easy plants, at least to start out. SO, my question is, do I wait for my tank to cycle before adding plants, or will they help with the cycling process? THANKS for any input!

[Nautilus29]

somebody correct me if im wrong but I think you cycle first.

[Chrona]

Plants actually eat up ammonia, but I'm not sure how the balance works out. I've seen a few articles where the guy heavily plants his tank, puts some cycling fish in there, and only sees a minor ammonia spike. I guess it would slow down the cycling process though, technically, because the bacteria doesn't have as much ammonia.

[cocoa_pleco]

if its a hardy plant- no need to cycle

[sergo]

you can put them right off the bat. i put some in mine the day after i started cycling and i cycled my tank in 10 days. i was fishless cycling and adding ammonia at 12 hour intervals.

[*Sarah*]

Ok, so I'll wait till it cycles, which is fine.

Now, I heard something about cycling using Fish Food??? Is this possible? I realize I could get ammonia, but I don't have any right now and I do have food :) Also, our area is currently being hit by what is supposedly one of the biggest snowstorms of the year. BLEH!

[Chrona]

Ok, so I'll wait till it cycles, which is fine.

Now, I heard something about cycling using Fish Food??? Is this possible? I realize I could get ammonia, but I don't have any right now and I do have food :) Also, our area is currently being hit by what is supposedly one of the biggest snowstorms of the year. BLEH!

Yes, you can use fishfood, because it breaks down, but ammonia is much more accurate and faster to boot. It also doesn't make a mess.

I still haven't fixed the snowblower yet! 10 inches of snow is gonna own me tomorrow when I'm shovelling :(

[*Sarah*]

Oh I posted before you two..so, mixed opinions eh? I guess I just do what I want and see what works? lol

[sergo]

find some pure ammonia, it's cheaper than fish food and a hell of a lot faster.

[Chrona]

Oh I posted before you two..so, mixed opinions eh? I guess I just do what I want and see what works? lol

What I meant was that it certainly doesn't hurt the plants, as they take in ammonia as a nutrient. As for the fish, the cycling will take longer in a planted tank, but there won't be much of an ammonia spike if you have a lot of plants.