I've heard that plants make cycling longer (with the absorption of Nitrates - no way to tell when finished).
True? False?
True? False?
Plants vs. Cycling
- Thread starter CaitxSith
- Start date
Plants actually reduce the amount of time needed to cycle a tank.
While it's true that plants do absorb nitrates, unless you have a high tech tank with a lot of plants, nitrates won't become undectable.
While it's true that plants do absorb nitrates, unless you have a high tech tank with a lot of plants, nitrates won't become undectable.
Completing the nitrogen cycle is primarily of concern as it applies to fish. The idea is that ammonia at low levels, and nitrite at any level, is extremely hazardous to fish.
Plants utilize ammonia and nitrate as nutrients, and absorb nitrite out the water.
Point is, ammonia and nitrite are removed by plants, therefore speeding up the time period required before fish can be safely introduced into the aquarium.
Plants utilize ammonia and nitrate as nutrients, and absorb nitrite out the water.
Point is, ammonia and nitrite are removed by plants, therefore speeding up the time period required before fish can be safely introduced into the aquarium.
... If you use enough plants (lots of them) initially, they will absorb enough NH3 and NO2 to keep them from harming a modest fishy bioload while your bacterial colonies get established. It will still take at least a couple of weeks for them to get established and if you have some plant blight ("I had no idea the goldfish would eat Elodea...") before the bacteria are established, you will see a NO2 spike that can cause problems if left unattended.
Wow...
So, in a way, by adding a huge amount of plants right at the start, fishy cycling isn't as harmful as it is without the plants?
...not that I'm planning on it. I'd much rather fish-less, as it just seems more convenient to me.
...wow, that's... crazy.