Fishless Cycling - Plants/old Substrate

[ElectricMayhem]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and also to community tanks, and I'm going to ask what might seem the n00biest of all n00b questions

I'm about to start a fishless cycle on my new 50 gallon tank, and I have a couple of questions [and I promise I read through other threads in the Beginners Q's and tried a search!]:

*Do I put the plants in before I start the cycle? I would have thought that I'd set the tank up as it's going to be, just minus fish. I've read a couple of conflicting things, such as would the plants survive, but if I add the plants after the cycle, is it going to uncycle it? I'm planning on java fern, anubias, java moss.... feel free to suggest anything else too so long as it's relatively low maintenance

*Will it help if I put existing substrate from my boys [bettas] tanks in to kick start cycling? Or will it have no effect or a detrimental effect?

TIA for any help you can offer

 

[bettleadam]

well really u shud put the plants and decor when u set it up, then leave it running for a couple of weeks doing the fishless cycle, nad testing it... as 4 putting substrate from a mature tank, it would be a great help for ur nitrate and nirite levels as the mature gravel/sand w/e it is contains the good bacteria that breaks down the fish poo n waste, stopping the waste releasing harmfl chemicals 2 ur fishies! hope his helped!