evonner Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 I'm cycling a new 29 gallon tank. My new plants arrived today and need to be planted. But I'm not completely cycled yet. I do have back-up tanks, if necessary to temporarily plant or float, but there permanent home is to be in the 29 gallon tank. I'm watching Cory's video on "Cycling a planted tank". My substrate is stratum and eco-complete spread in areas of what plants need each substrate. I set the tank up on 1/6/23. I used some cycled media in my filter and a cycled sponge filter. I added almost a full bottle of Fritz Zyme 7. I tested on 1/7/23: Ammonia .25, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20, pH 7.0, dGH 10, dKH 6. I added Fritz Fishless Fuel to see how fast is would process. I brought the ammonia up to 2ppm. I tested on 1/8/23: Ammonia 1.0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20, pH 7.4. I tested today (1/9/23): Ammonia 1.0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20. My ammonia level that I spiked to 2ppm's came down to 1ppm in 24 hours. The plants that need to be planted are: 1) Cryptocoryne Tropica 2) Cyptocoryne Wendtii Red 3) Scarlet Temple 4) Red Dwarf Lily 5) Red Flame Sword and 6) Java Moss. Is my ammonia too high to plant them? Should I plant them in one of my other tanks temporarily? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darax Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 As far as I've experienced, plants are okay with ammonia. My plant's bane during the cycling process is algae. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 Just keep the light intensity lower than normal and plant them. Water change if it reaches 2ppm. Also, start fertilizing immediately, but at 50% dose. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evonner Posted January 10, 2023 Author Share Posted January 10, 2023 Okay, thank you. I will do that. The ammonia should not rise as I have no livestock in it and I have 20ppm nitrate but I will be testing everyday until I am fully cycled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 Still need to get potassium, phosphorus and micros in there. Just a light fertilizing until the tank starts growing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evonner Posted January 10, 2023 Author Share Posted January 10, 2023 I can do that. I have Easy Green liquid and root tabs but I do not root tabs now as there is a layer of stratum but I will dose with liquid Easy Green for the water feeders. Thank you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rube_Goldfish Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 If I'm remembering my Walstad correctly, plants actually prefer ammonia to nitrates as a source of nitrogen, but there does reach a point of toxicity. So their presence, once they settle in, will directly bring your ammonia down, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyM Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 I had plants in every tank I've cycled, and I never showed any ammonia. NitrItes? Yes, but ammonia, no. Either my ammonia strips are defective, or the plants kept the levels so low my strips never picked them up - my theory at least. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evonner Posted January 11, 2023 Author Share Posted January 11, 2023 The ammonia is down to .50 ppm today when I tested and the plants are doing good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Gumby Posted January 11, 2023 Share Posted January 11, 2023 Pretty sure plants can utilise ammonia directly it just takes them a little while to adjust Whenever I have to QT anything I always throw in some floating plants along with a cycled sponge filter and never had any spikes New display tanks get fully planted before I even fill with water as its just plain easier and saves the wet sleeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now