Plants While Cycling

[SteM]

Hi guys quick question, is it ok to have plants during the cycle? Will they survive? I thought it would be ok but another member has told me I should remove them, I'd like some opinions tomorrow as I'd plans to plant more tomorrow and this has thrown a spanner in the works... I'm pretty sure I've read other members threads where they've had plants during the cycle or am I imagining things

 

[Aquascaper]

As far as I'm aware the only disadvantage is that they consume some of the ammonia therefore affecting true readings in the tank with regards to how the filter is coping and with what amount.

 

[SteM]

So if I go ahead and buy the plants would it be safe enough to even double the ammonia dosage?

 

[Aquascaper]

I'm not sure enough to give an opinion, my planted tank days were when T5 was the bees knees

Hopefully someone will comment or you could try posting in the planted section.

 

[TekFish]

The cycle will take a heck of a lot longer if you do. Don't dose anymore than you would, plants don't use Ammonia and NitrIte as much as they use NitrAte. If you still feel it will be a problem however, add a bit more Ammonia, but not double you'll be waiting forever.

TekFish

 

[SteM]

Ok cheers mate, thank god for copy and paste

 

[SteM]

The cycle will take a heck of a lot longer if you do. Don't dose anymore than you would, plants don't use Ammonia and NitrIte as much as they use NitrAte. If you still feel it will be a problem however, add a bit more Ammonia, but not double you'll be waiting forever.

TekFish

[/quote/]

Ok so I won't add double ha, I haven't tested nitrates yet but last Saturday it turned about 4-5 ppl to 5ppm in about 12 hours, ill test for nitrates when I get home... At the minute I'm having it dosed 10ml of ammonia every second day, if I add more plants would It be ok to add 10 ml every day to deal with the plants? I want to get them now while I have the money

 

[Aquascaper]

As I say I'm not up to date on planty stuff these days but I read somewhere else on the forum that aquatic plants use ammonia more than nitrates but this is not normally available in a mature tank. I found that a bit odd as most plants require nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to grow so I'm interested (but not enough to research myself) what opinions are.

 

[SteM]

Sorry that last post should have said 4-5 ppm ammonia to nitrite, I think ill go ahead with the plant purchase surely they can't use up that much ammonia If they even do, ill just keep dosing 10ml as the calculator here says that what I need for 5ppm and it's homebase own brand some members have said this is 9.5% , even go as far as 12ml to deal with plants and that it's not too much

 

[Aquascaper]

Stick to the dose you're at (10ml) as even a tank full of fish aren't going to produce 4ppm of ammonia so if the plants suck up 1ppm you're still fine.

 

[SteM]

Ok ill stick to what I'm at so, thanks for your help

 

[Aquascaper]

Wasn't exactly much help but no problems

 

[Primous]

Adding plants to a cycling tank is not something I'd recommend. The levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate a cycling tank has to achieve is pretty much a toxic soup for the plant. Add to that the light requirements of the plant and you're pretty much creating ideal conditions for some of the more stubborn types of algae. I did this exact thing to give my aquarium some "life" when I was cycling. The Plants died an extreme death and with the light, I got the blue green slime algae for good measure lol.

I later read on theplantedtank that adding live plants to a cycling tank is the equivalent of adding fresh tulips to raw sewage.

 

[mark4785]

In my limited experience, I would only do a fishless cycle with plants if you have a significant amount of plants, the right balance of co2 and a 6 hour lighting period.

Without an abundance of plants and co2 or a too lengthy lighting schedule, the plants won't be able to utilise the ammonia as a fertiliser and you would probably end up with the start of an algae bloom within 2 hours of lights-on.

Members of UKAPS tend to suggest that 'planting up' and avoiding a fishless cycle altogether is the way to go as it is their belief that healthy growing plants replace the function of the biological filter.

 

[SteM]

I have a good amount of plants now since Friday and I've been giving 12hours of lighting and there's no algae whatsoever in the tank