Questions about Cycling my 55 gallon

[Bongerz002]

I've heard that plants will speed up cycling. And that taking the substrate from other mature tanks will speed it up. How much substrate will I need to take. Is the plant thing true? Also would it speed things up to take a pack of that biofilter stuff and let that sit in the tank (probably an already used one)

 

[Mgamer20o0]

yes plant thing is true. handful of gravel should do. what will speed it up faster if you got some filter media from a cycled tank.