Plants while cycling

[AbbeysDad]

I would not do any sort of artificial "cycling" once the plants establish. Adding any form of pure ammonia [you mentioned Dr. Tims One and Only, and this method requires adding ammonia] can kill or set back the plants--note I said "can," not "will." Ammonia is after all toxic to all life depending upon the level........
Byron....-.

Just a clarification...Dr. Tim's One and Only merely seeds the tank with (nitrosomonas and nitrospira) beneficial bacteria. It doesn't 'require' ammonia unless you're doing a fishless cycle. In which case, a food source (ammonia) is required to populate the colony. The modest amount of ammonia required should not be harmful to plants anymore than the ammonia produced from fish would.
However, I do agree that when practical, the planted tank offers the best/easiest way to cycle a tank and introduce fish more quickly...as long as it's done gradually.

 

[Byron]

Just a clarification...Dr. Tim's One and Only merely seeds the tank with (nitrosomonas and nitrospira) beneficial bacteria. It doesn't 'require' ammonia unless you're doing a fishless cycle. In which case, a food source (ammonia) is required to populate the colony. The modest amount of ammonia required should not be harmful to plants anymore than the ammonia produced from fish would.
However, I do agree that when practical, the planted tank offers the best/easiest way to cycle a tank and introduce fish more quickly...as long as it's done gradually.

Thanks for clarifying this Michael. I have never used this product, can't get it locally so haven't considered it, but I understood from others here that ammonia had to be added. This I personally would not do with live plants. But the product without pure ammonia is fine, or should be, though probably not necessary. B.