How do I go from 'fishy' to 'fishless' cycle in a planted tank?

Ms.Bubbles

Ms.Bubbles

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Sep 26, 2005
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Due to water quality problems, I've moved my sick betta into quarantine bowl while my (planted) tank finishes its' cycle. I don't want to subject him to any more ammonia/nitrites.

My question is, how do I "fishless cycle" a planted tank now? I'm already at 0.6 mg/L ammonia and 0.2 mg/L nitrites, but without a fish, how do I keep the bacteria growing? I don't want to put liquid ammonia into the tank in case it kills the plants.

Any suggestions? (besides Bio-Spira)?
 
low concentration of ammonia will not kill your plants. In fact, plants use ammonia as a source of nutrients and in a heavily planted tank the plants can effectively replace biofiltration and keep ammonia and nitrates down.
 
Of course, if you add ammonia to a planted tank, you may a nice algae outbreak.

Use the fishfood as TMQP suggested, about the amount you would feed to the betta, but only every other day.
 
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