How long to wait before adding more fish?

[YourPalCM]

Hello everyone,

I've kept aquariums for quite some time, but I've never bothered to tackle live plants. I'm going to be setting up a 46g tank soon, and it's time to make the next step!

I'm fully in tune with how to cycle a new tank, and have done so plenty of times in the past. In this case I'll be able to take filter media from another tank to quicken the process. But, as I said, I never had to cycle a tank with plants.

I plan to have 2" of either Eco-Complete or Flourite below 1" to 1-1/2" of pool filter sand.

Is there a plant "break-in" period, so to speak, where I should put the plants in and wait even after the tank has fully cycled, before adding additional fish? I just don't want to begin fully stocking the tank and then realize a month later that my plants are not fairing well or that I have an algae problem and I need to figure out what is wrong very fast.

I guess my question is - generally how long does it take before you can be sure that your plants are solidly established and that you're on the right track?

Your Pal,
Chris Mal

[ninoboy]

I usually add fish a few at a time a week after I set up the tank. But I planted densely from the beginning and includes some fast growing stems. You don't want to fully stock your tank straight away. Just add a few every week. This won't work if you only have a few plants though. With few plants, you'd better of wait for a while and see whether there is any amm. or nit. spikes.

[YourPalCM]

Thanks!

Yeah, when I said "begin fully stocking the tank" I meant BEGIN THE SLOW PROCESS OF fully stocking the tank. Except for my Cichlid tank, I've never added more than a few fish at a time.

[anonapersona]

if you read the articles at Chuck Gadd''s site, he gives good advice on how to plants and then add fish to avoid the typical algae that plagues new tanks.

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/

[YourPalCM]

Originally Posted by anonapersona

if you read the articles at Chuck Gadd''s site, he gives good advice on how to plants and then add fish to avoid the typical algae that plagues new tanks.

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/

Thanks. That was exactly what I was looking for.

For anyone else interested, here is the specific link to the article...
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_newtank.htm