cycle/plant adding ?
- Thread starter garvondavis14
- Start date
I would say so. You can cycle with plants, but IME its not a good idea. They will use up the ammoina, and nitrites, and can bring the levels down to 0, so your tank my not even cycle at all. I would do a fishless cycle, and use the time to plan out your tank.
Search the "silent cycle".
Plants use NH4 and NO3 both.
Planted tanks do not need any cycling provided you have enough and not just one or two and expect them to clean the entire tank.
So the bacteria are really secondary in a planted tank,a back up for NH4.
I've never been able to measure any NH4 in any planted tank I've set up with a hobby kit.
If you focus on the plant's needs, there is no use to worry about the bacteria.
Adding NH4/NH3 is how I induce algae cyultures, I'd never suggest you add this to a planted tank unless you want algae and like to experiment etc.
Regards.
Tom Barr
Plants use NH4 and NO3 both.
Planted tanks do not need any cycling provided you have enough and not just one or two and expect them to clean the entire tank.
So the bacteria are really secondary in a planted tank,a back up for NH4.
I've never been able to measure any NH4 in any planted tank I've set up with a hobby kit.
If you focus on the plant's needs, there is no use to worry about the bacteria.
Adding NH4/NH3 is how I induce algae cyultures, I'd never suggest you add this to a planted tank unless you want algae and like to experiment etc.
Regards.
Tom Barr