Fishless Cycling With Plants

[ebrcknrdg]

I had a mixed bag of advice when asking whether to put plants in before or after fishless cycling so i did it before. Now ive read that the plants will use up the ammonia in the tank therefore jepordisng the cycling process.

Ive been cycling for a few days now and ammonia levels are around the 4ppm mark and dont seem to be dropping to drastically. What needs to be done if it does. Would i just need to keep topping up the ammonia whilst tesing for nitrites?

 

[Themuleous]

It is true that plants will take up NH3 and NO2, in preference over NO3 and I guess this could upset the cycle process, however you have to remember that in such cases the plants are acting as you filter so you dont need the man-made filter to do the job (although I dont advise you take it out).

It does however seem like your tank is producing NH3 at a greater rate than the plants can use it, in which case the power filter will cycle in the normal way.

All in all the two; the plants and the power filter will reach an equilibrium, at which point the plants will be removing all they can and the rest will be dealt with by your power filter.

I would carry on the fishless cycle as you would do if the plants weren't in there.

Sam

EDIT - please remember that NH3 and NO2 will induce algae far more than NO3 alone, so have the lights as little as possible during the cycle to reduce the chance of you getting an algae bloom.

 

[ebrcknrdg]

It is true that plants will take up NH3 and NO2, in preference over NO3 and I guess this could upset the cycle process, however you have to remember that in such cases the plants are acting as you filter so you dont need the man-made filter to do the job (although I dont advise you take it out).

It does however seem like your tank is producing NH3 at a greater rate than the plants can use it, in which case the power filter will cycle in the normal way.

All in all the two; the plants and the power filter will reach an equilibrium, at which point the plants will be removing all they can and the rest will be dealt with by your power filter.

I would carry on the fishless cycle as you would do if the plants weren't in there.

Sam

EDIT - please remember that NH3 and NO2 will induce algae far more than NO3 alone, so have the lights as little as possible during the cycle to reduce the chance of you getting an algae bloom.

will it not affect the plants the lights being on a smaller amount of time? how long do you recommend? would 8 hours be too much?

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh it will affect the plants, but a few hours mid day should be enough for a week or so. 8 hrs is way to much, I ran my tank lights for 4hours a day when I went away for three weeks in June, the plants survived, a bit leggy but they were OK, they just dont grow as fast.

Also, if you have the lights on for to long the algae will get a foot hold because of the NH3 and NO2 and smother all the plants and you'll just have to throw them all away if that happens.

Prevention is better than cure.

Sam

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Yeh it will affect the plants, but a few hours mid day should be enough for a week or so. 8 hrs is way to much, I ran my tank lights for 4hours a day when I went away for three weeks in June, the plants survived, a bit leggy but they were OK, they just dont grow as fast.

Also, if you have the lights on for to long the algae will get a foot hold because of the NH3 and NO2 and smother all the plants and you'll just have to throw them all away if that happens.

Prevention is better than cure.

Sam

Im glad i asked now as ive been leaving the lights on at least 8 hrs just turned them off now!

 

[Neo8223]

Me too! 12 hours lol. Lucky i read it. Gone down to 5 hours