Cycling: With plants or without?

[Soulcoffr]

I've never set up a planted tank in the past. I've always went with fakes.

But now I'm planning to set up a 29g tank with plants and I was just wondering if it's better to do a fishless cycle with the plants already planted or is it better to plant them after the cycle is established.

I would imagine the plants would absorb some of the nitrogen compounds as is their wont, so wouldn't the plants affect my tests when monitoring my cycle?

Just trying to get a handle on what I need to do. Thanks!

[reybie]

Not really sure but when I was doing fishless cycle I put plants in during the middle of the cycle. It went on for 2 weeks and I put plants in (small ones) after week one. Didn't hurt the cycle I don't think.

[Ulan]

You can put the plants in. Depending on the size of the plants, you will have a different effect on the course of the cycling. Densely planted tanks have only a very mild or hardly noticeable cycle. But if you start with only a few small plants, the effect on the cycle will be small. Some plants like hornwort or anacharis are ideal nitrogen sinks :).

[Soulcoffr]

Some plants like hornwort or anacharis are ideal nitrogen sinks :).

Isn't that because they can multiply so fast? And that in culling the excess plant growth, you're removing nitrogen?

So it sounds like it wouldn't affect my cycle much if I started with smaller plants initially.

[Ketso]

I will recommend what RexGrigg would surely tell you. Read his guide (http://www.rexgrigg.com/) before you start planning. If done right, you can have a planted tank and maybe never see ANY cycle at all.

Maybe the biggest mistake one can make (I made it) is to not plant heavily enough from the very begining. Dont worry too much about "presentation" when starting out. Plan on allot of fast growing stem plants that you can thin out or remove over time, replacing them with your "presentation" plants as you go.

Rex's guide is very informative and will really help.

DeMonZ

[Mgamer20o0]

plant should help speed the cycle up. go right ahead and add them from the start.

[redswi]

So it sounds like it wouldn't affect my cycle much if I started with smaller plants initially.

The problem with planting light in the begining of a cycle is you have a higher chance of algae forming...IMO planting heavy and seeding the tank is the way to go...should only have a mini-cycle if any at all...

Ketso: Didn't you have a big algae bloom???

[gvildawg]

I started with a fully planted tank with Eco-Complete and I have never had a noticeable cycle. I was able put fish in almost immediately. I also have a very good filter with some specialized media in it which I'm sure helped things along. This may not be the best way (or the recommended way) to do things but its worked out fine for me.

[Ketso]

The problem with planting light in the begining of a cycle is you have a higher chance of algae forming...IMO planting heavy and seeding the tank is the way to go...should only have a mini-cycle if any at all...

Ketso: Didn't you have a big algae bloom???
I wouldnt call it a "bloom". I mean, I dont have algae everywhere just yet. I am having issues with some hair and BBA but its not taking over. However, it's worse than I would like for sure. Hope to get some more plants this weekend, which should help.

[phanmc]

I don't cycle any of my planted tanks. I just plant heavily from the start and wait a couple of days to make sure they're growing before I add the fishes.

If you use fast growing stem plants, they will absorb the nitrogen (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates) before they can reach a harmful level. The more plants you start with the less likely algae will become a problem you want the plants to outcompete the algae for nutrients, not enough plants means leftovers for algae. I personally aim for a fast growing stem per gallon.

[skeletonhand]

Plant as heavy as you possibly can. You'll be much happier in the long run. :dance2: