Hello, newbie with a question

[hamish]

I have started a fishless cycle on June 24, the tank size is 37g.

I had to start the cycle with shrimp, could not find pure ammonia to save my life( it always had fragrance and or surficants- I hope I spelled that correctly).

Anyway when the shrimp got the ammonia up to about 6ppm I thru in seeded filter media, but I got an ammonia spike of about 8ppm. I had read that high of a number could kill off any good bacteria you've added so I did a 50% water change and got i down to 4ppm but it spiked again so I took out the shrimp. I also read to add fish food wich I had been doing. I've continued with the fish food and my numbers as of this A.M. are-

Ammonia .25ppm, Nitrite between .50ppm and 1ppm, Nirtrate 20ppm.

Wanted to know if it would be ok to add live plants at this point or wait.

Thanks for your help and this great site.

Hamish

 

[Rbishop]

Yes, you can definitely add plants.

 

[hamish]

Great-thanks, H

 

[JakeJ]

Plants are not effected by an uncycled tank like fish and invertz are, so it is safe to add plants. They will actually aid in cycling the tank.
Jake

 

[hamish]

As of this A.M. the ammonia was 0ppm nitites were .25 -.50ppm nitrates at 20ppm.

I guess I'm comming to the end the cycle?

 

[mikeb210]

Yep, sounds like you're well on your way. If you can find a bottle of bioculture, that would speed things along. Id give another week or so and start adding some hardy fish after a water change.

 

[hamish]

great, I'll keep you all updated