Plants first?

lokel

lokel

AC Members
May 20, 2006
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Ontario, Canada
I am buidling a new freshwater community tank. The tank is approx 12 gal.
I am wondering if it best to get the plants set up and going in the tank before I add the fish?

How many fish is best for this tank? I was thinking about these species of fish gourami, minnows,guppies,killifish and platies. Im thinking of getting all these species, these r just the ones i like the best.

Any advice will be great.

Thanks
 
Yes, plant it before you set it up. I even fishless cycle with plants.

You can't get all those fish in a tank that small. Prune down the list.
 
Last edited:
lokel said:
I was thinking about these species of fish gourami, minnows,guppies,killifish and platies. Im thinking of getting all these species, these r just the ones i like the best.
Any advice will be great.

Thanks
Click to expand...

My Bad, what i meant to type was that Im not thinking of getting all of these species, but i would like some out of this list. Im pretty sure i want a dwarf gourami, just not sure of the other ones to get.
 
Unless you use a very large mass of fast-growing stem plants at the startup of the tank, you are running the risk of killing your fish through ammonia and nitrite spikes by putting them in an uncycled tank.

If you only want a moderately planted tank of slow-growing plants, you should cycle your tank first, without fish. Plants are NOT recommended during the cycling phase, because they really complicate the cycling process. They should be added after the tank is properly cycled.
 
Heh, two conflicting posts of advice and IMO they are both correct ;)

Personally, I wouldn't recommend that a newbie do a silent cycle (plants). It's too easy to overstock the tank and if the plants die off -- and sometimes they do in immature tanks -- then you're in trouble.

I've done a couple of silent cycles, but we're talking a platy and six small (2") rainbowfish in a 75g and a couple of 2" rainbowfish in a 45g. Barely a bioload at that point but I don't heavily stock most of my tanks.

So, if you're relatively new to the hobby -- and especially if you are new to plants -- I would recommend that you cycle first, then add plants.

Just my 2 cents and only opinion.

Roan
 
I have a rosey red in the tank now, i didnt have the heart to feed it it to my puffers. I know this sounds like a stupid Q, but can she be in the tank while its cycling? Or put her in a lil tank till the other one is finshed cycling? Im new to this whole cycling thing. Never even heard of it till i joined this forum.

Im currently reading the Cycling Tank article from this site.

Thanks
 
Unless you have access to an established aquarium (ie. one that's been up and running for a few months) to put her in, you have to ride out the cycle with the fish. If that's the case, you need an ammonia and nitrite water testing kit (or better yet a Master Test Kit with the important tests in it). Test for these two things on a daily basis, and if you get readings, do enough of a water change to get the levels to un-readable levels. Eventually ammonia and nitrite will drop to 0, you'll see nitrates appear, and your tank will be cycled.
 
I'm going to be setting up an eighty gallon and leaving it running with just substrate when I cycle it ... it's going to take some time before I can figure out what plants I need (i'm defiantely goign to have to order online. which sucks as a Canadian eh) so the tank will be established for a while before I add plants ... once i get the aquascaping down i'll start to introduce my 'bows ....
 
I know what ya mean twig about ordering the plants and getting them over here(ontario). Ive called many online fish stores and they wont ship to here. Ill have to c if my LFS has the plants i want.

You guys got any 2 cents about what fish?

Thanks for the help with the cycling


Lokel
 
I'll vouch for the platies, they're fun to have-- full of energy, and very colourful. Some people have issues with them breeding too much, but I think my guys are way too fond of eating the fry to be bothered with letting any live to overpopulate the tank. :P Maybe a dwarf gourami and a trio of platies to start? I would think that would leave room for some cute little bottom feeders (like maybe a snail or two, or possibly panda cories?) but I'm no good with stocking limits. >_<
 
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