Live Plants While Cycling Tank

[Fishywoowoos]

Hi,

I am currently mid cycle with my tank, and looking to get my tank as near to complete as can do while waiting. Does having live plants in the tank effect the cycling in any way? or is it ok to have some plants in while i carry out the remainder of the fishless cycle.

Thanks

 

[aaronnorth]

ammonia & light = algae.

Best to leave the plants until it has cycled.

 

[Amunet]

Other than the algae....... having plants in a cycling tank won't mess with the cycling process at all.

 

[fatheadminnow]

There is a lot of controversial with this topics, as you have already witnessed by the two responses, which are tow opposing ideas.

Yes, it is true that Ammonia + Light = Algae. But even if you do not have plants in your tank during cycling, there is still going to be Ammonia and Light.

My advice is to do what you want.

I would personally put the plants in the tank first, then start the cycling process. This way, if you did not put the plants in the tank right away and waited to put them in after the cycling was completed, you are going to mess the with chemistry of the water of the tank. Nothing serious, but just something to remember.

Also, having plants in a tank during cycling, might actually help the cycling out, as the plants will use the ammonia and nitrate, and other trace minerals up.

So, the choice is up to you, both ways are fine, and both ways will not effect your tank in any significant way.

And Remember, Healthy plants = very low potential for algae growth. Where on the other hand, unhealthy plants = high potential of algae growth.

-FHM

 

[Dave Spencer]

The only real controversy is on this site. Planted tank forums will have us either leaving the plants out until the end, like Aaron says, or planting sufficient numbers initially so that there is no cycling process to talk of.

What I will never understand is why people fishless cycle with the lights on.

Dave.

 

[aaronnorth]

Yes, it is true that Ammonia + Light = Algae. But even if you do not have plants in your tank during cycling, there is still going to be Ammonia and Light.

why would you have the light on when cycling? seems like a waste of electricity to me. You can cover the tank up with blankets or bin bags to cancel out on daylight.

I would personally put the plants in the tank first, then start the cycling process. This way, if you did not put the plants in the tank right away and waited to put them in after the cycling was completed, you are going to mess the with chemistry of the water of the tank. Nothing serious, but just something to remember.

what would mess with the chemistry of the water? I dont understand this?
adding plants after means that nutrients & toxins in the water will be utilised, i cant see anything bad that can happen.

But like Dave says, if you are going to put plants in first, then my advice would be to plant heavily (minimum 75% substrate coverage) and plant fast growing 'weeds' such as hygrophillia, and egeria densa.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yes, it is true that Ammonia + Light = Algae. But even if you do not have plants in your tank during cycling, there is still going to be Ammonia and Light.

why would you have the light on when cycling? seems like a waste of electricity to me. You can cover the tank up with blankets or bin bags to cancel out on daylight.

I would personally put the plants in the tank first, then start the cycling process. This way, if you did not put the plants in the tank right away and waited to put them in after the cycling was completed, you are going to mess the with chemistry of the water of the tank. Nothing serious, but just something to remember.

what would mess with the chemistry of the water? I dont understand this?
adding plants after means that nutrients & toxins in the water will be utilised, i cant see anything bad that can happen.

But like Dave says, if you are going to put plants in first, then my advice would be to plant heavily (minimum 75% substrate coverage) and plant fast growing 'weeds' such as hygrophillia, and egeria densa.

No, there is nothing bad at all, but you just said that the plant will use trace nutrients and toxins, and if plants were not there, than those trace nutrients and minerals would still be in the tank.

So, there is nothing serious/bad that is going to happen, but you are going to change the "chemistry" of the water a little.

-FHM