Can Fertilisers Be Used In A Cycling Tank?

[jacden]

my planted tank is undergoing a fishless cycle at the moment. it has been set up since 3rd may. Apart from a lowering of ph from 7.8 to 6.8 ,which necessitated a large water change today ,the cycle seems to be progressing ok.
substrate is jbl aquabasics plus covered by fine roman gravel.
Lighting is t5 54watt x3 luminere
plants at present are java moss, java fern, Vallis, cabomba, Aponogeton, hygrophylia, anubia, all have grown since planting

water test this evening following water change and addition of ammonia is ph 8, Ammonia 4ppm, nitrites 5ppm, nitrates 10ppm.

Should i be adding ferts/ if so what would be the best? Will it alter cycling results. Any advice will be gratefully received.

 

[Liam]

I dont see any reason why you couldnt add plant ferts. Growing plants will be eating the ammonia already so I guess if they are growing faster due to ferts they would consume more of the ammonia before the filter gets to process it. I expect the plants will be fine without extra ferts as the root feeders should be getting enough from the aquabase. Generally in heavily planted tanks there is no need to cycle, growing plants will take up the ammonia once the stocking is low in the beginning. This is generally preferred for planted tanks as ammonia added directly to the tank tends to benefit the algae. Tropica do liquid ferts with and without phosphate and nitrate, JBL or any of the major brands will do fine for trace ferts. Ferts depend on the amount of light whether Co2 is added, fish load and what is already in the tap water. UK tap water often has lots of nitrates and phosphate so they may not need to be in the ferts you use. Not sure that if that answers the question, but you can add ferts without disrupting the cycle, much of what is in the ferts would already be in the tap water in small amounts.

 

[jacden]

I dont see any reason why you couldnt add plant ferts. Growing plants will be eating the ammonia already so I guess if they are growing faster due to ferts they would consume more of the ammonia before the filter gets to process it. I expect the plants will be fine without extra ferts as the root feeders should be getting enough from the aquabase. Generally in heavily planted tanks there is no need to cycle, growing plants will take up the ammonia once the stocking is low in the beginning. This is generally preferred for planted tanks as ammonia added directly to the tank tends to benefit the algae. Tropica do liquid ferts with and without phosphate and nitrate, JBL or any of the major brands will do fine for trace ferts. Ferts depend on the amount of light whether Co2 is added, fish load and what is already in the tap water. UK tap water often has lots of nitrates and phosphate so they may not need to be in the ferts you use. Not sure that if that answers the question, but you can add ferts without disrupting the cycle, much of what is in the ferts would already be in the tap water in small amounts.

thank you Liam . I will go ahead and add them.

Jackie