Important Question About Plants

[catfish4ever]

Just copped myself a new 52 gallon and was wondering...

I'm going to be adding substrate and planting plants before adding any fish, I have mature media so I can instantly cycle anyways, but can low tech plants survive in a tank with no fish in for about a month? I can dose ferts for the plants its just I want them to settle before fish come in, thanks in advance

 

[fluttermoth]

All plants can survive in tanks with no fish, as long as they have light and food.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Keep in mind using the mature media won't be an instant cycle, you'll still need to use ammonia and follow the cycling article at the top of the page.

 

[catfish4ever]

Keep in mind using the mature media won't be an instant cycle, you'll still need to use ammonia and follow the cycling article at the top of the page.

The media will really speed up the cycle though, I'd hate to go through a sluggish slow cycle

 

[catfish4ever]

Also if I am given the filter matured with the tank can I just run it on the tank with no fish and add fish whenever?

 

[fluttermoth]

Also if I am given the filter matured with the tank can I just run it on the tank with no fish and add fish whenever?

 
You'll need to add ammonia, as with a normal fishless cycle; both to make sure the bacteria are alive and doing their job and to keep them fed and alive while the tank is empty (of fish). If the bacteria have no food, they might go dormant, but they might just die.

 

[catfish4ever]

Also if I am given the filter matured with the tank can I just run it on the tank with no fish and add fish whenever?

 
You'll need to add ammonia, as with a normal fishless cycle; both to make sure the bacteria are alive and doing their job and to keep them fed and alive while the tank is empty (of fish). If the bacteria have no food, they might go dormant, but they might just die.

A splash of ammonia every now and then?

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes; like the snack dose in TTA's cycling guide.