Plant cycle advice

[Aqua Gal]

Would someone be able to give me a little guidance please. I have been running a fish-less planted cycled tank for 3 weeks now, I have included in my water, Fluval water conditioner, Fluval biological enhancer and Fluval plant gro + as per instructions.

Water details tested today

Temp - 78.6 F
PH - 6.8 - 7.0 (in between)
High PH - 7.4
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 2.0 ppm
Nitrate - 5.0 ppm

My plants are growing and seem fine, I did have an issue with one plant Alternanthera reineckii Mini which just went to mush and died and Hottonia inflata one died and one is okay (different areas of the tank). I have added an extra light into my aquarium as I thought it was too dark. I have a fluval flex 57. I have four rummy nose tetra and two shrimp (not sure what type - clear looking, I don't know if these are ghost shrimp) in another tank (a Biorb, which I hate, the reason for buying the new tank). I cleaned my tank yesterday and did a 10% water change. I have been reading around the internet getting different information on when to put in fish, some say after 24 hours, putting plants in changes the cycle process etc. So basically when should I put in my fish and shrimp?

 

[dmpfishlover]

In regards to your plants that "went to mush" or died... This can be totally normal for newly planted aquatic plants. Many aquatic plants are actually grown out of the water and once they are submerged they need to "transition" into aquatic growth. Often times their leaves/stems will die (called "melting") a few days/weeks after being submerged, but then they will start to produce new growth (stems/leaves which may look different then previous growth) as they transition, and will recover completely. So, don't remove the remaining parts of the plants that have melted, leave the roots/stem that are left and you may see new growth soon.

As for when to add the fish and shrimp, I don't have experience with a fishless, plant-in cycling process, so I do not feel qualified to give you advice on this... But I am sure that there are plenty of members on here who can help you with that!

 

[dmpfishlover]

OH, and sorry, I forgot... Where are my manners... to the Forum!!!

 

[Colin_T]

Alternanthera are a marsh plant that regularly die when submersed.

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You don't add any fish until the ammonia and nitrite have gone up and come back down to 0ppm, and the nitrates start going up.

You have 0 ammonia but some nitrite and this would suggest your cycle is over half way through.

Don't bother testing for nitrates until the ammonia and nitrite have both gone up and come down to 0ppm because nitrate test kits read nitrite as nitrate and you get a false reading.

When the tank has finished cycling and there is no ammonia or nitrite, do a 90-100% water change and refill the tank with dechlorinated water. Wait 24 hours and then add some fish. The big water change will dilute any nitrates in the water and make the tank clean for the fish.

 

[Aqua Gal]

In regards to your plants that "went to mush" or died... This can be totally normal for newly planted aquatic plants. Many aquatic plants are actually grown out of the water and once they are submerged they need to "transition" into aquatic growth. Often times their leaves/stems will die (called "melting") a few days/weeks after being submerged, but then they will start to produce new growth (stems/leaves which may look different then previous growth) as they transition, and will recover completely. So, don't remove the remaining parts of the plants that have melted, leave the roots/stem that are left and you may see new growth soon.

As for when to add the fish and shrimp, I don't have experience with a fishless, plant-in cycling process, so I do not feel qualified to give you advice on this... But I am sure that there are plenty of members on here who can help you with that!

Thanks for the advice on the plants. I guess they just need time to adjust as you mentioned. And me to be patient in the process

 

[Salty&Onion]

two shrimp (not sure what type - clear looking, I don't know if these are ghost shrimp)

Can be ghost shrimp or amano shrimp. Could you post a photo of the shrimp? I'm sure I can say what shrimp you've got.
And to the forum!