Plants too much of a bioload?

PinkPlaty

AC Members
Nov 29, 2007
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upstate ny
Hey guys
I started up a ten gallon last friday. There are about 15 small bunches of plants. Right now the pH is about 7.4 and there is 1ppm of ammonia. I'm trying to cycle the tank, or is this too many plants?
 
live healthy plants don't have a bioload, however decaying matter on the plants and dead plants will produce ammonia. don't worry about too many plants.
 
Have no idea what kind of plants, had them for months though

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I had some of those when I first started, they looked really nice till one day they suddenly turned brown on the sides and in a week they were mush. Semi-aquatic or bog plant it seems. Just beware they will live for a while in a well oxygenated aquarium and turn turn suddenly.
 
Hate to say it, but the two smaller ones in front look like mondo grass--can stay alive for a while, like the dracaena, but will die eventually. Maybe you'll have better luck than I!!
 
Really cool looking plants, but almost all of the ones that look like that will eventually die if kept fully submerged.
 
live healthy plants don't have a bioload, however decaying matter on the plants and dead plants will produce ammonia. don't worry about too many plants.

Totally agree. MORE PLANTS! I have just started up my second 10g and used flourite substrate this time, with HOB TopFin 10 filter only. I have planted bulbs of waterlilly, onion and aponogeton, plus some 'ready growing' plants to establish while I wait for the bulbs to develop. My aim is to have a very heavily planted tank but still with space for fish, experimenting with a variety of plants until I get the look I want. I have too much light right now - 2 x 15w incandescent. Aim is to manage bioload of fish almost entirely with plants and two-weekly 25% percentage water changes. No props in this tank. Wanted to maximize water volume and plant life. Only set it up last night. Found a great site also: http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide.php

Your plants look very healthy. Never be afraid to add living plants! Just keep an eye on them maintenance wise...trim, remove if too big/ugly, try something else. It can take a long time to get a beautifully aquascaped tank to a state of bio-balance.
 
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