Before I Start To Cycle Shall I Add Plants And Wood ?

[lee_essex]

Hi there, before i start to cycle, shall i put the wood decoration in ? and also shall i put some plants in, will the plants quicken the cycle process up ?


also, is it best to do the cycle with the tank lights off?

Thanks

 

[minxfishy]

Hi there, before i start to cycle, shall i put the wood decoration in ? and also shall i put some plants in, will the plants quicken the cycle process up ?


also, is it best to do the cycle with the tank lights off?

Thanks

I would/have added all decor and plants whilst doing a fishless cycle, hard to say whether adding the plants speeds up the process, depends on how many plants etc.

If you are adding plants, I would leave the lights on for about 8 hours a day as plants like light, again depends on what plants though.

 

[waterdrop]

Substrates, wood and plants during fishless cycling are entirely by individual choice. Personally, if I were planning to have live plants, I would go ahead and put them in so that I could have at least the hope (even if its only psychological) that some good bacteria might ride into the tank on them (helps with the long periods where patience is sorely needed.)

Fishless cycling tanks often get heavy algae, so having the above items during fishless means you need to be prepared to clean them later - not always the case but better to understand it may happen.

Indeed, light is a factor used by bacteriologists in bacterial growth, however there is no literature about whether it is of any importance for growing the two good species of chemolithoautotrophic bacteria that we particularly seek in fishless cycling. Therefor the only practical guidelines concern not overdoing the light as it will encourage algae.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[aquanovice]

I would just leave the plants out of it for a second, They take up ammonia that bacteria needs when cycling the tank.
Whether its lights on or off it doesnt really matter :l
But if you do decide to leave your lights on be sure not to leave them on for too long as this can encourage the growth of algea and you dont want that as yet again they can use up the ammonia that is needed to cycle your tank.
But this is one of those individual choices things its not really a matter of life and death. Just do what ever is easier!

Good Luck !

P.s Bogwood should be just fine!

 

[waterdrop]

check the threads about bogwood prep - boiling etc.