Cycling a newly planted tank. Please help. Questions about fertz / BB / water changes!

755 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Karl Starr, Apr 22, 2021

rfisher3

Discussion Starter · #1 · Apr 21, 2021

Hello!

I am soon going to be transitioning my tank from dry start method to being flooded. I have monte carlo and S repens in there currently. I will be adding some more stem plants the day I flood. I read alot about quite a few water changes when you get a new planted tank. So one of my questions is

- How often should I do a water change on a new planted tank?

I was thinking maybe 3 times a week but that led me to my next question

- When should I add in my live bacteria?

I wouldn't wanna add bacteria in just to remove it later with a water change. I also heard that using some live bacteria you need to wait a day after adding a dechlorinater like prime.

Then my final question is

- Should I be adding my fertz right away?

Also I do have decent lighting and CO2.

If anyone would know how to remove air bubbles from aquasoil after a dry start please let me know. I cant do it like normal obviously because of the plants in the way.

I am using Fritz zyme 7 as live bacteria.
I am using Prime as my conditioner
I am using Thrive all in one as my fertz

Thanks for your help!

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rfisher3

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Joined Apr 21, 2021

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Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 21, 2021

Plinkploop said:
Since you're using aquasoil you're going to want to change 50% everyday for the first week, every other day the second week, twice a week the third week and once a week thereafter (or monitor and adjust water changes based on accumulated nutrients in the tank).

Monitor your parameters and when you've bottomed out on nitrate that's when I normally start dosing frets, until then there's just too much of a risk (in my mind) of making the starter algae bloom worse.

Bb should be added per instructions. I have not used fritz' so I don't know how to advise you in that.

I usually use a turkey baster to remove air bubbles in substrate. Hope this helps.

Do you stick the turkey baster into the substrate? How do you get around the carpet of plants? Thanks for your response!