Add Ammonia for a fishless cycle with a planted tank

Hey guys,

Is it possible to use the "add ammonia" fishless cycle method if I have a planted tank?

The tank is a 180 gallon tank that will be lightly planted with the usual beginners like java fern, java moss, various anubias and a couple of crypts.

Can I add an ammonia solution to the tank with the plants in it already or do I need to cycle the tank before I add the plants??

Thanks

 

You can add ammonia with the plants in there. Apparently, the plants actually like the ammonia even better that nitrates.

 

I don't think it would hurt the plants at all.

 

Ammonia is manufactured for two main reasons. The first is as a household cleaner and the second is to be used as a fertilizer. Ammonia is what all the farmers use as fertilizer for their crops around here and you can sure tell it when you pass by a field when they are applying it. As anyone knows who uses fertilizer much you can over apply it and that will kill the plants.

My recommendation is to start out by adding small amounts of ammonia and slowly increase the amount you are adding and monitor the plants closely. If you see any of the plants starting to yellow at all you have over done it. Do a water change and cut back on the amount you are using. The old adage of if a little is good, then more should be better is wrong when it comes to ammonia because more can be deadly where a little was just right.

 

Hey guys,

Would it just be easier to cycle the tank first and then put in the plants? I really am not bothered either way of doing it

 

If you haven't set up the tank with the plants yet I would agree it would not only be easier but safer to cycle the tank before adding the plants. Once you get the filter cycled you can always empty out a lot of the tank water into buckets and then to do your aquascaping. Once you have finished planting you could just re-add the water slowly so that you don’t disturb the plants.

 

I just fishless cycled with all my plants and they are doing fine.

 

I have heard that the plants can very well tollerate the fishless ammonia cycle however it is worth noting that going overboard is bad.

 

Okay thanks guys... I think I will just cycle it without the plants to be safe, that way I can also also have that fallback of if I do go slightly overboard because of a miscalculation etc. I won't have things to worry about...

Thanks for the help!!