Putting Plants In

[Bugdozer]

We just put water in our new fishtank yesterday, which is a 40l Aqua Start. We plan to have some live plants in there and so we have put down a substrate that is suitable for them. Though the water was dechlorinated when it was put in we have not yet started adding bacteria to the tank.
I am not sure when is the best time to add plants to the tank though. I have heard it said that it's best to do it when you put the forst fishes in as it can make cycling the tank harder for some reason, though other info says put them in straight away. Third info said don't put them in without fish as they will die of malnutrition! Please can anyone advise what is the best stage to put plants in - can we do it after adding the bacteria or must it be before? How will it affect the starting up cycle?

 

[mattyeatsmatts]

Just stick them in and fishless cycle

 

[elmo666]

No doubt opinion will differ on this one, but I would add them now to allow them to become established. If you have a nutrient rich substate and want to add liquid fertilser then your plants should be fine. As for cycling your tank, nitrate is the end result of this cycle, so if it is present at the outset I don't forsee a problem. I may be showing my ignorance, but I am only speaking from my experience. As for adding them after the 1st fish, well that can only spook them causing stress when they will be at their most vunerable.

 

[blur411]

I would do it before adding the fish too, I added mine with the fish for a fish in cycle and it sped it up. The plants with use the ammonia, and nitrites as nutrients, as well as adding some additional fertilizer. I'm no expert, and also new but I think it would be just fine

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I added my plants straight away and two weeks later the growth was absolutely amazing and the cycling was so much faster than in my previous tank. I was able to add 2 fish at a time a lot faster than cycling without plants. I am hooked on "silent cycling" now.

Here is a link if you are interested in reading about it. http/www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_silent_cycling.php

 

[elmo666]

Just had another thought on adding the fish first. Nothing to do with nutrients, cycling or any off the other technical stuff. It will give any newly added fish somewhere to seek and as such they will be less stressed me thinks.

 

[Bugdozer]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[stu40]

If you're new to this, i would do a fishless cycle then add plants, better this, than a fish in cycle.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

It depends on whether you're cycling with fish in or without fish.

Fish in - add lots of plants immediately.

Fishless - do not add plants until the cycle ends, then add them and give them a week to develop a decent root, then add fish.

 

[stu40]

It depends on whether you're cycling with fish in or without fish.

Fish in - add lots of plants immediately.

Fishless - do not add plants until the cycle ends, then add them and give them a week to develop a decent root, then add fish.

not that i'm disageeing with you,, but if you finish the cycle, add plants, then wait, what happens to your bacs during that week with no fish?

 

[FishFanatic04]

If the OP already bought the plants then add them. Otherwise. You could hold off on buying them till the last few days of your cycle.

 

[kcartwright856]

Fishless cycle, then plants, then fish.

 

[ian]

this is known as a silent cycle guys and needs to be done properly.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/299827-why-we-should-not-fishless-cycle-planted-tanks/

 

[Prime Ordeal]

It depends on whether you're cycling with fish in or without fish.

Fish in - add lots of plants immediately.

Fishless - do not add plants until the cycle ends, then add them and give them a week to develop a decent root, then add fish.

not that i'm disageeing with you,, but if you finish the cycle, add plants, then wait, what happens to your bacs during that week with no fish?

You continue to dose ammonia until the fish are added.

 

[FishFanatic04]

It is not that serious folks. you can do a cycle fish in or out with plants. Its been done. The plants happen to like ammonia.

Remember Snazzy's experiment where everyone chewed her a new one for adding plants? her plants thrived!