Plented, Non-Cycled Tank?

[t4gaz]

I'm about ready to start thinking about filling my tank with somethinig other than fresh air and have read a few ways to get started.

I really like the idea of a planted tank (not heavily) and from what i can gather you can start a planted tank from the off without worrying too much about completing the fish-less cycle first?!

I'd like to go for a low light, low tech affair so there will be no CO2 additives or fancy lighting (i have 2 30w T8's over a 200l tank?) involved for me...i can deal with the slow growth.

Can you use this type of low tech planted set up and still get away with not going through the fish-less cycle?

Also, is the only thing you then need to worry about with the plants is providing nutrients, such as TPN+?!

Cheers,
Gaz.

ps - the title is supposed to say 'Planted'

 

[Wills]

The process your referring too is called a silent cycle which requires to a lot of plants to start with. Its also probably not the best way to start a tank off I know the feeling of getting a new tank and wanting to get fish in there asap but honestly patience at this time will help you in the long run - its kind of like learning to ride a bike before you start downhill racing.

Wills

 

[t4gaz]

Cheers for the reply Wills.

Although im not opting for the planted tank to rush with the fish, i just much prefer the look of a nicely planted tank to one with stiff, fake plants in there.

I'd happily run with the plants only if needed for a while, but if you go with plants to start then they seem to go hand in hand when using this silent cycle?!

 

[Wills]

To be honest I have only heard of a handful of people who have used this process I would stick to the fishless cycle with ammonia and daily testing. Especially if its your first tank, then if you wanted to go for a planted tank it is better to add them later on one reason for this is in the early stages of a tank you get a lot of algae and this can destroy a planted tank quite quickly.

Wills

 

[ian]

its not as easy as adding plants and adding fish i'm affraid. Its also not the easiest way to start. Have a read of this before you do anything...


http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/299827-why-we-should-not-fishless-cycle-planted-tanks/

 

[OldMan47]

You can indeed do a fishless cycle with plants in the tank. The plants will use some of the ammonia and nitrates as fertilizers so be sure to mention the plants while consulting with people on your cycle's progress. That way we won't misinterpret what we see in your water sample numbers.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, agree with Wills, you've pretty much defined yourself in your first post as not wanting to do the things that are normally needed for a silent cycle setup (it does better with "heavily" (70% of substrate covered when looking from above) and with perhaps a high-tech setup rather than low-light technique.

I also agree with OM47 that many fishless cycles have been done with plants. One of the reasons you'll hear people talk about doing fishless cycles without plants is because the ammonia is present and if the beginner allows the tank to receive too much light there is a chance of a large algae breakout. But if this is understood and controlled for, there is less chance this will happen.

~~waterdrop~~