Fishless Cycle

[fishboytoo]

Hi all,

I am performing my first ever fishless cycle on a ten gallon tank. I have plans to add a few plants to it. I was wondering if anyone knows whether I should wait until the cycle is done or can I add them now. I have started adding ammonia today.

Thanks,
FB2

 

[George Farmer]

Personally I'd avoid adding plants to such a tank with high ammonia levels. It may damage the plants and the ammonia will trigger algae if you are lighting the tank.

 

[Squid]

I added mine.. the anubias and java fern survived with no problems, after all they are pretty hardy, but the valis spirals (whatever you call the spiral one) which as gf225 told me is a little less hardy, that took a battering and i had to take it out and replace it once the tank was cycled.

So, it really depends on what you are planting.. but in general, my experiences would say add them later. Also, when you do the big water change at the end of the cycle, its easier to syphon up any stuff that accumulated during the cycle, and add the plants to a nice clean tank.

Just my 2 penneth anyway.

Cheers
Squid

 

[fishboytoo]

Thanks for the replies.

I was leaning toward waiting. It didn't seem like constant ammonia spikes/poor water would be good for the plants.

Would it be reasonable to use low amounts of ammonia in a planted tank to keep the cycle going if there are no fish in it for a while? I would think that there would not be any spikes if the tank was already cycled, just maintenance of the cycle.