The Time Has Come......

[waterdrop]

Yes, well my thinking was that most of the references I've seen about plants absorbing ammonia and nitrates, have, almost in the same breath, mentioned that its mostly a factor in planted tanks or "near planted tanks." (ie. tanks with at least 70% substrate coverage by plants.) Whereas, with plant breakdown into debris, my thinking is that you've gone out and bought plants, which contain significant organic material (ie. plenty of stored nitrogen and hydrogen in the molecules of those cells) and even if you don't have a planted tank, in fact, especially if you don't, you might have significant plant debris as a beginner and have it contributing ammonia/nitrite to your fishless cycle...

gotta run, but this is fun! ~~waterdrop~~

 

[iankent]

Yes, well my thinking was that most of the references I've seen about plants absorbing ammonia and nitrates, have, almost in the same breath, mentioned that its mostly a factor in planted tanks or "near planted tanks." (ie. tanks with at least 70% substrate coverage by plants.) Whereas, with plant breakdown into debris, my thinking is that you've gone out and bought plants, which contain significant organic material (ie. plenty of stored nitrogen and hydrogen in the molecules of those cells) and even if you don't have a planted tank, in fact, especially if you don't, you might have significant plant debris as a beginner and have it contributing ammonia/nitrite to your fishless cycle...

gotta run, but this is fun! ~~waterdrop~~

i'd have assumed that unless the amount of dying plant material is around equal to or exceeding the amount of live plant material that it wouldnt be a problem - thats based on no evidence at all, but will experiment when I have some free time

 

[LionessN3cubs]

MW, I also have a related theory that one of the wildcards often present at this end-stage of fishless cycling is the amount of plant debris. For me of course, I've thought about it while sitting there viewing Oliver's tank, watching the new plants sprout new leaves but also watching many of the original leaves die and break down. Here I am adding 4-5ppm ammonia in the morning, but all day long some unknown amount of dead plant material is being converted into still more ammonia by the heterotrophs, making it somewhat unknown how much total ammonia is really present for the 12 hour processing test period. (In my case, the broken tank episode left the plant roots unrooted for several days and weakened the plants.)

Just seems a common wildcard because fishless cycling folks who have plants must have a very wide range of circumstances related to this. Its tempting to write off the plant debris as too small an ammonia contributor to matter, but personally, I have a hard time judging that.

~~waterdrop~~

Hmmm I wonder if I've got snails decomposing in my tank. At one point I had 6-7 snails. In the last week I've only seen my big one hanging around. wonder if they got sucked into the filter and died or something? how could I ever find out?

Hi Lioness,

I've noticed you from time to time being a diligent reader of other threads, despite being quiet on your own! Anyway, nice to hear from you.



Hey water...yeah I know I was MIA for a bit other than reading. Major probs here at home with my special needs kiddo. He had to get stitches in his eyebrow and everything :::sigh:::: so I've made time to read when I can, but havent taken the time to post a whole lot.

At least ya'll got a breather from my constant posting! LOL

 

[waterdrop]

Sorry for the probs Lioness, hang in there!

No telling where the snails are. One thing about snails, they love to explore and they don't mind coming right on out and heading out across the carpet! Used to find them far away from the tanks! LOL~

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Hey water...yeah I know I was MIA for a bit other than reading. Major probs here at home with my special needs kiddo. He had to get stitches in his eyebrow and everything :::sigh:::: so I've made time to read when I can, but havent taken the time to post a whole lot.

At least ya'll got a breather from my constant posting! LOL

sorry to hear that Lioness, if there's every anything I can do then give me a shout

I wouldn't worry over a few snails, I doubt a couple of little snails would make enough mess to alter the readings.

 

[backtotropical]

Hey Lioness,

Not heard from you in a while. Hope everything is ok with the rest of the pack. Hows the cycle?

BTT