My tank is still cycling (in the 5th week). I am doing water changes every day to keep the ammonia and nitrite down. Would it be beneficial for me to have plants in the tank now? Or better to wait till it has settled down a bit? How much more work will plants be? Will I have to use fertilizers for just a couple of plants?
Plants or not
- Thread starter livingword26
- Start date
The grand old answer is...it depends.
Will plants negatively impact a cycle? No. The only thing plants do is generate ammonia if they rot, and consume nitrite/nitrate for nitrogen when they're healthy. Either way, it's pretty much a win win while you're cycling. I put plants in first thing, then start cycling and have had no problems.
Fertilizers depend on what kind of plants and lighting you're doing. Can't really give an answer without knowing.
The amount of work again depends on the plants. Some plants need no additional work once they're in, others require lots of trimming, pruning, ferting, etc. So again, it depends on what kind of plants.
Will plants negatively impact a cycle? No. The only thing plants do is generate ammonia if they rot, and consume nitrite/nitrate for nitrogen when they're healthy. Either way, it's pretty much a win win while you're cycling. I put plants in first thing, then start cycling and have had no problems.
Fertilizers depend on what kind of plants and lighting you're doing. Can't really give an answer without knowing.
The amount of work again depends on the plants. Some plants need no additional work once they're in, others require lots of trimming, pruning, ferting, etc. So again, it depends on what kind of plants.
It doesn't depend...
Plants help cycle a tank quickly...the more the merrier....
read about cycling www.rexgrigg.com The best way to cycle a tank is to load up on plants, and a few hardy fish, like say, Danios or Minnows....after a few weeks and a zero NH4 reading, start to add more fish every week or every other week.
Plants help cycle a tank quickly...the more the merrier....
read about cycling www.rexgrigg.com The best way to cycle a tank is to load up on plants, and a few hardy fish, like say, Danios or Minnows....after a few weeks and a zero NH4 reading, start to add more fish every week or every other week.
Be careful if you want to add plants this late in the game. Excess NH4 in a planted tank can cause algae. Plants are also not so good at processing NO2.
I'd recommend doing mutliple water changes to get those readings down as low as you can. Then add the plants, but plant very heavy.
I'd recommend doing mutliple water changes to get those readings down as low as you can. Then add the plants, but plant very heavy.
Ditto... Don't just add in a few plants because you are impatient with the cycling. That will lead to dying plants, algae, and a mess. If, however, you want a planted tank in the long run, and you are prepared with the appropriate equipment, substrate, and fertilizers (Micro and Macros) THEN don't wait for cycling... plant heavily right away with fast growing stem plants. Any other type of plant will melt right away. When the tank is cycled, then make the change over to different plants slowly. Rexx Grigg has a good article on cycling a planted tank www.rexgrigg.com