Is This A 10 Day Cycle,

[ian]

It's because it's harder to do that the normal cycles and things can end up in an algae disatster if things aren't done correctly, people don't like the addage of looking after plants also. You obviously nailed it without knowing. I also have never fishless cycled a tank, all of mine have been silent cycled. It's much easier IMO that messing with ammonia and stringent testing with kits. The best test kit a planted tank can have is the plants.

 

[Tonyb111111]

It's because it's harder to do that the normal cycles and things can end up in an algae disatster if things aren't done correctly, people don't like the addage of looking after plants also. You obviously nailed it without knowing. I also have never fishless cycled a tank, all of mine have been silent cycled. It's much easier IMO that messing with ammonia and stringent testing with kits. The best test kit a planted tank can have is the plants.

Guess it was more luck than judgement then

When I get my next tank I will definitely be doing the same again, but this time it will be with more experience. It will will harder convincing the wife that we should get another....

 

[gforce17]

Well done you! and thanks for a very interesting set of posts. I filled my tank with loads of plants from the beginning and they're growing furiously with co2 and fertiliser, but the nitrites and nitrates are still off the planet. Didn't mean to sound like 'sour grapes' earlier!

 

[snazy]

My understanding is that you left the tank for 6 weeks without adding any ammonia or fish and you got a nitrite reading that eventually disappeared.
The tank can indeed cycle without anything added into it as there could be microscopic stuff like algae dying off, plants dying off or organizms that cause ammonia although this way it can take some time. Between the small ammounts of bacteria that got established for the small ammounts of ammonia present and also the plants helping out additionally, it got the tank to a "cycled" state.

 

[Tonyb111111]

Well done you! and thanks for a very interesting set of posts. I filled my tank with loads of plants from the beginning and they're growing furiously with co2 and fertiliser, but the nitrites and nitrates are still off the planet. Didn't mean to sound like 'sour grapes' earlier!

No issues taken, all part of a healthy debate

My understanding is that you left the tank for 6 weeks without adding any ammonia or fish and you got a nitrite reading that eventually disappeared.
The tank can indeed cycle without anything added into it as there could be microscopic stuff like algae dying off, plants dying off or organizms that cause ammonia although this way it can take some time. Between the small ammounts of bacteria that got established for the small ammounts of ammonia present and also the plants helping out additionally, it got the tank to a "cycled" state.

Hi Snazy, I added 6 Colombian tetras on day 12, 2 days after getting zero ammonia and nitrite, then doubled up every week. Never seen ammonia yet and I am now fully stocked

 

[snazy]

Alright, thanks, my bad not reading the post properly
The silent cycle syndrome then I guess.

 

[Tonyb111111]

So when I am asked how long the tank took to cycle, am I saying 10 days or til it was fully stocked???

 

[gforce17]

Dunno! BUT I'm impressed! Wish mine was doing the same! Nitrites still off the planet!! I love exclamation marks!!!!