Newbies: Starting a tank? Plants actually help!

Again with the nitrates? MQP, although you are sure that my tank should be cycled after 6 weeks, I know that my tank is NOT done cycling, because I'm still reading ammonia, which wouldn't be present in a fully cycled tank. I don't need to see nitrates to know this, because I can see there is ammonia & no nitrites.

MQP, I know that you would like to see a nitrate reading, but that doesn't mean my information isn't accurate, it just doesn't contain a nitrate reading. We can come to similar conclusions using different methods, yes?
Also, if accuracy is of importance to you, this is Ms. Bubbles, not Bubbles (who is a different member of the forum). :)
 
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btw, doesn't the 3 watts per galon rule underestimate the amount of light in a small tank? Since the tank is not very deep, I think it means that you have a lot more "efficient" light, since not a whole lot of light gets refracted.

Correct me if I'm wrong though :)
 
I did research to determine which plants would likely work with my lighting setup, & I assume that others might do the same.
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This is the point of my comments and information. People don't always research. If they read that plants help, and just go buy some plants they like then they are set up for disaster. If they do their research and learn what they need to know then they will be prepared. One thing is for certain. It is never safe to assume that new folks in this hobby will research anything completely. Most of us new or old alike get about half of the information we need before we do something and we get the rest when things go wrong.


I remember asking the forum about my lighting situation, & was advised by several members that a 9 watt compact fluorescent is still considered low lighting, despite the fact that it fits the 3 watts-per-gallon rule. It is believed (by some) that the rule breaks down in smaller tanks. Are you suggesting that mine is a medium or high light tank? That would make a bit of a difference.
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The rule does break down somewhat with smaller tanks, but 3 wpg is at least medium lighting in any situation. and as compared to a 10g with one 15w bulb or a 20g with the same 15 watt bulb it is definately not minuimum. The point still remains that there is much more to know than just saying plants will help with the cycle and once weekly water changes are adequate with plants during a fishy cycle. Your information is not inaccurate, just very very incomplete in the big picture. Partial informatin is a good place to start research, otherwise it is dangerous. I am only trying to help bring the big picture to light so the danger is gone.
Dave
 
daveedka,
Caution is a good thing. It's just that I have seen a lot of newbies scared away from the help that plants could bring to a cycling tank because of complicated advice about substrate, CO2, etc. which isn't always necessary. Newbies give up on putting plants in, & the fish suffer unnecessarily. I wish to offer some encouragement so that others may know of the benefits available, because noone else seems to be talking about how much plants can help.

I came across a quote by floridadriftwood.com regarding aquarium plants, they say: "Plants readily absorb both nitrite and nitrate". If this is the case, perhaps it would explain the absence of nitrite from my tank after 6 weeks (altering the normal cycling process).
 
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