Cycling a new tank

[Smalleyboy]

I am about to set up a new 300 litre planted community tank and I was wondering when best to add the plants. My understanding is that the plants will use the nitrates so if I add the plants at the start of the cycle it may take a longer than usual amount of time for the appropriate nitrate munching bacteria to develop.

My question is: should I just add the water and let the tank cycle before adding the plants or should I put all the plants in the tank at once and cycle it that way?

Your advice will be gratefully received.

 

[Nauplii]

In my tank, my plants have been in there since the start. I found that it actually helped my tank somehow to cycle quicker dont ask me why.
I love the plants and so do the fish, if i were you id get the plants and leave them in there for a few days to get their roots sunk, so when you put in the fish, you dont have to disturb them.

 

[Nisha]

I would plants in straight away. It will help your cycle to establish well right at the beginning.
The bacteria that will develop in the tank are more to break down the ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates. The plants will help rather than hinder the cycle.
In nature plants are a huge part of the nitrogen cycle and by adding plants you will be establishing a more complete ecosystem in your tank.

Hope this helps.

 

[Nauplii]

yh thats what i was trying to say nisha
definatley get some plants at the start

 

[Smalleyboy]

Thanks for your help. It looks like I will be planting out the tank and letting the whole cycle.

 

[Tropjunky]

i think that plants slow it down they take out the nutriants so the bactria can't start till u got fish. If u dow a water test then u'll find that the waters is good but only cos of the plants and i9t's like using RO water to cycle ur tank it doesn't help but u get good water tests but ur tank isn't cycled.

 

[Smalleyboy]

Tropjunky - I know what you are saying and thought the same myself but if I cycle the tank without plants and then add fish that will put a bioload on the tank which will settle down after a while. If I then add some plants they will start to consume the nitrate/nitrites which means that some of the filter bacteria will die off because there is a shortage of nitrate/nitrite for them causing a further spike when I add more fish.

I'm thinking the best thing to do is put all the plants in and let the tank cycle as much as possible before adding a few fish and monitor my levels to see if I get a secondary cycle or a continuation of the initial cycle.

I would prefer to add my plants at the start when I can spend time arranging the tank layout and getting it right before adding the fish. I had a tank a few years ago and it used to stress the fish out everytime you start moving things about.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Have a look here for information on 'silent cycling'.

This is when your tank is so planted that when fish are added the plants use up the amonia they produce and keeps it at a safe level. You need co2 (diy would be fine) and a lot of plants. Add fish slowly and it should work, your filter will build up bacteria but it will do it much slower than it would as there will be less amonia available. However, bad levels won't be a porblem while it builds up.

 

[Smalleyboy]

Thanks Cheese Specialist, that article has answered all my queries and makes sense. Just need to think about a CO2 system now. I shall check out the planted tank forum for my research. Thanks again