Taking too long to cycle a 5 gallon with plants/betta...

[Ms.Bubbles]

Greetings everyone,

I'm asking this question in the plant section in case the plants are affecting my tank's cycling process...

I've got a 5.5 gallon with 2-3 java ferns, 1 crypt & 1 betta. This tank is not moving 'cycle' wise & has stayed at ammonia 0.6 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L nitrite since I started it 3 weeks ago (I seeded the tank with old gravel & plants). Not sure about my nitrates, haven't tested yet. I'm doing 20-30% water changes per week.

Am I doing something wrong here? Shouldn't I be seeing some real changes in the water readings by now? I'm wondering if the plants are slowing down the cycling process or something...

[phanmc]

The cycling process can take anywhere between 4-6 weeks. Give it a little more time and you should see the ammonia drop. If your plants are healthy and growing, you may also find that you have a low nitrate level as well.

Plants consume nitrogen if they are growing, so they do impact the cycle process since they compete for the same nutrients as the bacterias. However, they should affect the process in a positive way so you should see ammonia drop quicker with healthy plants.

[djlen]

It's hard to understand how a tank can stay as static as you report especially since you seeded it with a bacteria colony.
The plants you are keeping are not nutrient hogs, but you should be seeing some change, even if it's just a drop in ammonia and rise in nitrites.
This leads me to believe that your test kit is giving inaccurate results.
However, I can guarantee you that if you float some stem plants and/or water sprite in that tank, you will see a rapid 'cycle'.
Nutrient hogs such a stem plants create what some call the 'silent cycle' which in fact is no cycle at all. They use whatever is available while the bio-colony populates itself
and the tank matures.

Len

[Ms.Bubbles]

This is my concern about plants & cycling...the last tank I had was filled with anacharis & 1 betta, and from startup until about week 6 my water remained at ammonia 0.6 mg/L & 0 nitrites. I figured that if the tank was in fact cycling, the ammonia should have been 0 after 6 weeks. When I took out the stem plants, nitrites went up to 0.1 & that is where things stayed.
With these results I'm afraid that I'll never see an ammonia reading of 0!
So far (with planted tanks) I've never seen an ammonia 'spike', but I've also never seen a drop...

[djlen]

Once again.......how confident are you with the accuracy of your test kit? Is it still in date?
What kind is it?


Len

[Ms.Bubbles]

I'm using 2 separate "Nutrafin" water test kits (ammonia, nitrite), which use test tubes & liquid chemistry. I bought them both in October, I think both expire in 2008, so that should be fine.

I guess if nothing changes in the next 3 weeks I'll try a different ammonia test.