Fish Then Plants Or Plants Then Fish

[stevewood]

I've tried to find a definative answer on here but i've not had any luck.

Which order is it best to populate my new tank - Fish or Plants first?

I'm about 3-4 days off finishing the fishless cycle and i'm keen to get the fish moved from their current tank.

Any help much appreciated.

Steve

 

[babybell911]

I'd do plants then fish that way your plants will get a chance to settle in and root down before your fish go in there and if they're anything like mine wreck the joint! Either way goodluck x

 

[stevewood]

Thanks for that!

Most of my fish are not too fussed about attacking plants, but my Black Molly is Pitbull-like.

Plants first it is.

Steve

 

[geo7x]

i dont think it really matters to be honest, even if you add plants before fish youre going to always be adding new plants every couple of months or so depending on how much you want it planted.

Some real planted enthusiasts who make a tank for the plants more than for the fish have the tank running without fish for months and months so they can completely do their aquascape, then they add fish.

 

[thegnu]

plants first for me every time. they help filter the water of all sorts of nasties

 

[modaz]

plants first for me every time. they help filter the water of all sorts of nasties

i agree with this and they also increase the oxygen levels in the water

 

[Birdie]

Does it depend a bit on what sort of fish you are planning? I've added some plants towards the end of my fishless cycle as I want some fish that like a bit of plant cover and didn't want them to be stressed by my plonking them into an "empty" tank.

I did umm and ahh and dither about this a lot - couldn't seem to find a definitive answer as to whether it would mess the cycle up , but as far as I could tell, there seemed to be a body of opinion that it wouldn't have too much of a negative effect. At worst some people seemed to think it might slow things a little. I will be very interested to see the replies here, as I'm still not certian if I did the right thing, the wrong thing or the thing that doesn't matter in the slightest

My cycle is very nearly finished - nitrites down to zero in less than 24 hours - but not twelve - and I have very, very little algae......