Fishless Cycle with Plants

[Clurin]

I just set up a new 10 gallon tank last night (referenced in the cichlid forums). I will be doing a fishless cycle this time.

One question, though: I have 6 small Amazon Swords in the tank, and standard rocky substrate from PetCo.

Did I just waste some money for the plants? Will they be ok during the cycle? Should I pick up some more of a different kind of subtrate?

I'm also planning on adding some broken clay pots as hiding spots (I would _like_ to have a pair of some kind of dwarf cichlid in the tank, hence the thread in the cichlid forum). Anything else I need?

The tank has a 25 or 50 Watt submerisble heater (can't remember which off the top of my head) and a Penguin 150 filter.

 

[Kasakato]

Plants normally just use the nitrates and other ferts in the tank. Try it! It should work, but you may need yo raise your base line ammonia because yo are working against the plants. You can do a "silent cycle" too. This means you add the fish, and instead of doing water changes to plants do the work. IMO its not a great idea unless you are in a rush.

 

[OrionGirl]

Actually, it's much easier than that. Spend the time getting the plants established first. Make sure they are growing vigourously, then begin slowly adding fish. The plants will take up the ammonia, as long as you go with slowly building the bio-load. The bacteria will also develop, along side the bacteria. Or, pull the plants, put them in a large jar (swords will be fine with the leaves exposed, this is how they are grown in nurseries), fishless cycle the tank, put the plants in, then add the fish.

You do NOT want to do a standard fishless cycle with plants. The additional ammonia will create a huge, ugly algae bloom while the plants are trying to establish themselves--bad news.

 

[Clurin]

No rush. I have my 38 gallon to keep me occupied while this one cycles.

That one is actually cycling as well, but I added fish before I knew about fishless.. they are all doing great tho, and after a week and a half, the ammonia hasn't gone above .5 and the nitrites take about two days to get to between .25 and .5, so I do a 50% water change at that time. I added 3oz of Bio-Spira last week, but it didn't seem to help much. I don't plan on adding it to the 10 gallon.

So, the plants will eat the ammonia as well as the nitrates? Good deal, didn't waste that money! :clap:

 

[Kasakato]

I thought it was the 38g with the plants. Ok. Even easier. You can to a silent mini cycle. Take 1/2 the filter media from the 38g and put it in the 10g filter. Then every week get 2 fish you want, and add them. Keep an eye on the levels and do water changes as needed.

O wait, its cycling too :thud: I cant read tonight.

Just do what OG said.

 

[Clurin]

Actually, it's much easier than that. Spend the time getting the plants established first. Make sure they are growing vigourously, then begin slowly adding fish. The plants will take up the ammonia, as long as you go with slowly building the bio-load. The bacteria will also develop, along side the bacteria. Or, pull the plants, put them in a large jar (swords will be fine with the leaves exposed, this is how they are grown in nurseries), fishless cycle the tank, put the plants in, then add the fish.

You do NOT want to do a standard fishless cycle with plants. The additional ammonia will create a huge, ugly algae bloom while the plants are trying to establish themselves--bad news.

OK. How do I get the plants established? Just let them sit in there with the light on? I did drop in two sinking pellets last night, just to have something in the dechlorinated water. Should I vacuum that debris out? :huh:

 

[OrionGirl]

Not crucial--that's going to be a small amount of waste production. The plants should be growing--putting on new leaves, getting taller, etc. You don't want them to be losing leaves (swords particularly, you will see some leaf loss with bunch plants initially, but this should clear up before you add fish), no funny dark spots, no holes in the leaves. Basically, give them a few weeks with good lighting, time to grow some roots and look healthy.