Heavily Planted Dirted Tank Cycling

Hi all!
I'm starting a 29g and was wondering how I could cycle a heavily planted dirted tank? Is it even worth it to try or should I add the fish slowly and let the beneficial bacteria grow while the fish are there and let the plants absorb the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate? Thanks!

 

You certainly can cycle a dirted tank. Are you going full walstad with no filter?

 

You certainly can cycle a dirted tank. Are you going full walstad with no filter?

No. Sponge filter and ferts. I don't think I'm fully ready for the Walstad method.
How would I cycle it?

 

No. Sponge filter and ferts. I don't think I'm fully ready for the Walstad method.
How would I cycle it?

Ah ok, much easier. Am I right in thinking you have other tanks? If so, the easiest method is to run your sponge filter in an existing tank for several days and then move it over to the new tank.

If you don't have existing tanks and want to do the long way, the you need to fill the tank with water get the filter running and add a source of ammonia (drops of pure ammonia or a pinch of fish food) to help the bacteria develop. Test the tank, and has that ammonia gets converted to nitrites, add more ammonia. Keep going until nitrites and ammonia are 0 and you have nitrates.

 

Ah ok, much easier. Am I right in thinking you have other tanks? If so, the easiest method is to run your sponge filter in an existing tank for several days and then move it over to the new tank.

If you don't have existing tanks and want to do the long way, the you need to fill the tank with water get the filter running and add a source of ammonia (drops of pure ammonia or a pinch of fish food) to help the bacteria develop. Test the tank, and has that ammonia gets converted to nitrites, add more ammonia. Keep going until nitrites and ammonia are 0 and you have nitrates.

I'll run the sponge in another tank for a few days. Thanks!

Mazeus how long should I run the sponge filter in my established tank to get a good colony on bacteria on it (I was also going to squeeze my existing media's juice into the sponge for extra bb)? Also, can the plants survive (Insert answer for 1st question) days without a filter if I do small WC daily to remove stagnant water?

 

I'd probably give it a week, but really the longer the better.

The plants will be fine without a filter, they will need light though.

Edit- Make sure to keep us updated with pictures! I love to see other's tanks developing!

 

Acorn, I watched this the other day. It seems apt.

I like Mazeus idea too. I love me some sponge filters.

 

I converted my 60g into a planted tank with soil.
I’ve ran into all sorts of issues.
I used organic soil, and baked it in my oven just to be sure. I didn’t spend a fortune on soil meant for aquariums.
I made a mistake of just one area not having enough sand to cover the soil to like... weigh it down... the soil had created bubbles and plop! Soil everywhere when the air escaped that one place... lol.
fixed that... then I started getting this weird film stuff on my plants.
It’s like... dark... but it wiped off if you brushed the leaves with your fingers.
My plants are thriving though.
Its been a very aggravating... but rewarding experience.
move been at it a good 6 months.

 

I converted my 60g into a planted tank with soil.
I’ve ran into all sorts of issues.
I used organic soil, and baked it in my oven just to be sure. I didn’t spend a fortune on soil meant for aquariums.
I made a mistake of just one area not having enough sand to cover the soil to like... weigh it down... the soil had created bubbles and plop! Soil everywhere when the air escaped that one place... lol.
fixed that... then I started getting this weird film stuff on my plants.
It’s like... dark... but it wiped off if you brushed the leaves with your fingers.
My plants are thriving though.
Its been a very aggravating... but rewarding experience.
move been at it a good 6 months.

Ok. I want to add more sand... I think I will just to be safe. But that means I'll have to move the tank outside and mess up my scape UGGG

Acorn, I watched this the other day. It seems apt.

I like Mazeus idea too. I love me some sponge filters.

Very interesting video. Thanks for that!

 

Ok. I want to add more sand... I think I will just to be safe. But that means I'll have to move the tank outside and mess up my scape UGGG


Very interesting video. Thanks for that!

You should be able to just pass sand around stuff.
I did about 2 inches of sand, I just missed like maybe 6 square inches in the corner of my tank...
the good thing is, the soil didn’t make my water muddy... if you don’t stir it up it kinda lingers at the bottom and you can suck it right up.

Ok so... this is the 2nd month maybe? I had a big bloom of algae. Like annoyingly bad. I also had calcium stains appear pretty quickly.
min the right corner by the sponge filter there... if you look... you can see where the soil escaped. Lol. I’ll take some pictures of it & what it looks like now.
Also, see the black stuff on my plants? Idk.
It’s getting better but it’s been a process.

 

You should be able to just pass sand around stuff.
I did about 2 inches of sand, I just missed like maybe 6 square inches in the corner of my tank...
the good thing is, the soil didn’t make my water muddy... if you don’t stir it up it kinda lingers at the bottom and you can suck it right up.

Ok so... this is the 2nd month maybe? I had a big bloom of algae. Like annoyingly bad. I also had calcium stains appear pretty quickly.
min the right corner by the sponge filter there... if you look... you can see where the soil escaped. Lol. I’ll take some pictures of it & what it looks like now.
Also, see the black stuff on my plants? Idk.
It’s getting better but it’s been a process. View attachment 734073

Yeah I'll move it around with my hand dandy paint brush.

 

Yeah I'll move it around with my hand dandy paint brush.

Good idea
I added sand to that one corner. It’s a different color :/ I didn’t have any of my good sand left lol.
Im trying to let it all balance out because I wanna add like 6 angelfishes
I have 3, currently, in a smaller tank for quarantine.
it’s just been a whole deal it’s great.
but I wish you much luck!