Confused As Hell

[eaglesaquarium]

Do you have an ammonia and nitrite test kit? A pH kit would also be good. You'll need these to find out the safety of your water conditions. The plants and TSS can help, but as stated are no guarantee. You really need the test kit to ensure the ammonia and nitrite all coming up at zero to know that the tank is cycled. Also, limit your fed dings to once a day while the cycle continues. Fish need far less food than most feed them, and more food just means more waste and more toxins for the bacteria to need to deal with and will be more detrimental to your fish.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

From my experiences with freshwater cycling has been fairly easy. On all the freshwater tanks I've had the cycle started by itself and was finished within a week. I know that many people suggest bacteria and ammonia, but the truth is the tank is fine on its. Even if the cycle is not complete, guppies are hardy enough to survive the tail end of the cycle. Hope this helps.

 
Luke, 
 
I'm not sure how you assessed the cycle being completed, nor the volume of the tank you are referencing when your cycle completed in only a week, but I suggest that your results were highly atypical.  
 
Secondarily, we on this forum always try to promote 'best practices' and best practice would not be to cycle a tank with fish, regardless of the hardiness level perceived of the fish being used.  Knowingly exposing fish to toxins, in the opinion of members here is needlessly cruel to the fish.  As such, we promote fishless cycling using ammonia additions to simulate the waste produced by the fish and to encourage the bacteria that are absolutely necessary for the success of the tank.

 

[Gruntle]

This^
 
In my experience, tank cycling is exceptionally easy if you follow the cycling article to the letter (and come on here and ask loads of questions).
 
In my experience, putting fish straight into the tank as per the LFS recommendations ("just fill it with water and let it run for a week then come here and buy every fish in the store") leads to lost fish, lost money, and heartbreak (try explaining to a 3 year old why their favourite new pet just up and died during the night).
 
Please follow the cycling procedure if at all possible.  Adding plants will help, but keep a close eye on your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. And come here and ask loads of questions about your results.