Cycling confussion

[kaseysfan9]

I was definitely going to use the gravel in the pantyhose trick. I've heard that helps a lot.

 

[DrNo]

Actually, if you're densely planted so that the plants take up the ammonia, you are running what's called a "silent cycle" and can start stocking straight away, albeit slowly. It doesn't matter that the plants prevent such a large bacterial flora developing, because the plants mean you don't need one - only one big enough to mop up what the plants don't take. A flora of that size is what you'll end up with once you plant anyway; even if you build up a big flora without plants, once you put the plants in the bacterial flora will shrink because the plants are using some of the ammonia.

Well planted, moderately lit tanks with moderate stocking often don't have any significant oxidation of ammonia by bacteria; many owners of such tanks report that if their filter fails or the flow reduces to a dribble the problem is oxygenation when the lights are off, not ammonia or nitrite.

Thanks Karl!... less typing for me :iagree:

 

[KarlTh]

Roughly how many plants would I need to get the silent cycle started? Also, I would not add any fish until I was sure it was safe for them. Is that OK? or would I need to add fish to keep the silent cycle going? With this method, would I still need to add ammonia?

Silent cycle is an alternative method to fishless cycling. I'd not attempt it without at least 1.5wpg lighting. The number of plants is impossible to say; a blade of hairgrass is hardly equivalent to a fast growing Tiger Lotus. A good rule of thumb would be "sufficient plants that you can't easily see the back wall of the tank" - or at least won't be able to when the plants grow to the surface.

Fast growing plants logically enough are using more nutrients (i.e. ammonia) than slow growers, so put the fast growers in first for the silent cycle. Ceratopteris is a super hardy lovely bushy fern which grows visibly in a day. The similar looking Water Wisteria grows fast and is a nutrient sponge, Egeria (what you call "Anacharis" over the pond) if your water isn't excessively soft, Dwarf Sag in the foreground. Tiger Lotus is particularly nice because it's a red leaved plant (at least some varieties anyway) which doesn't need stratospheric lighting. Leave the slower growers like Crypts for later. If you're not intending to end up heavily planted, then you can do a lot worse than floaters like Salvinia.

Then put fish in. Just a few at first, certainly no more than 50% of total intended stock, but better less than that; it's easier to add fish than to take them back. Gradually add stock at a few a week; if you see any ammonia or nitrite it should be a very small amount which will disappear in a day; don't add any more until it has passed. If you stock slowly enough, you won't see any of these.

 

[kaseysfan9]

So there would be no need to add ammonia? Basically I just put in my substrate, my plants and decor wait a bit, then add 2-3 fish? How long do I wait before adding the fish? This is great information, Thanks!

 

[KarlTh]

You don't wait. You put a few fish in staight away. But only if you've got enough light.