Is Bio spira still available ?

[tcarswell]

Actually that isn't how it would work in a planted tank, which is what I was speaking of.

Sure, you can "build a foundation" with a fishless cycle, but keep in mind the tank adjusts to what it's stocked with. If you fishless cycle and then only add a few fish the tanks bio capacity is going to adjust to that and you will still have to add fish slowly.

All I'm saying is if you like planted tanks then look into how to start it off right and avoid all the cycling issues and have a nice stable healthy aquarium.

If you aren't going to do plants then it's a different story.

I still don't get it but ill have to chalk that up to my inexperience with planted tanks. Care to explain further ?

 

[Sploke]

Plants take up ammonia. If you start your tank out with a bunch of plants and then stock fish slowly, the plants take up the ammonia rather than waiting for a bacterial colony to establish itself to accomplish the same thing.

The idea behind fishless cycling is that you can build up a large enough bacterial colony to add the entire stock at once without (or at least just a minor) spike in ammonia and nitrite.

 

[tcarswell]

Plants take up ammonia. If you start your tank out with a bunch of plants and then stock fish slowly, the plants take up the ammonia rather than waiting for a bacterial colony to establish itself to accomplish the same thing.

The idea behind fishless cycling is that you can build up a large enough bacterial colony to add the entire stock at once without (or at least just a minor) spike in ammonia and nitrite.

I see , That would take a lot of plants from what I have read.

 

[jpappy789]

Yes, a lot of nutrient hogs such as hornwort and hygros.

 

[bfloyd]

May be a dumb question but, I suppose with 6-7 anubias and some java moss in a 20 gallon, I would still have to do the fish less cycle to be safe correct?

 

[tcarswell]

I would.... But I am not a plant guy they seem to have their own philosophy on how to cycle tanks.