[Plinkploop]

Will this soil add adequate ammonia to cycle a tank?

 

[minorhero]

Will this soil add adequate ammonia to cycle a tank?

Yes, I definitely got between .25 and 1.5 ppm when I used a small amount in a new tank.

 

[Plinkploop]

Thank you so much for your very quick response!! You rock!!

 

[blakeadam]

You don't need to "cycle" the tank by adding ammonia, it doesn't serve any useful purpose and may inhibit the development of an appropriate microbial community.

I like to plant the tank and then leave it to "grow in". Have a look at <"Oxygen levels required..."> and linked threads.

If you have actively growing plants you have "plant/microbe filtration", which is much efficient and flexible than "microbe only" biofiltration.
thanks me later....

 

[minorhero]

You don't need to "cycle" the tank by adding ammonia, it doesn't serve any useful purpose and may inhibit the development of an appropriate microbial community.

I like to plant the tank and then leave it to "grow in". Have a look at <"Oxygen levels required..."> and linked threads.

If you have actively growing plants you have "plant/microbe filtration", which is much efficient and flexible than "microbe only" biofiltration.
thanks me later....

Actually, you always need a source of ammonia when cycling at new tank. Otherwise there is no such thing as a cycle. That source can be aqua soil, fish food, decaying plant matter, actual straight ammonia, fish poop, or something else. But there has to be a source of ammonia otherwise bacteria can't grow.

 

[blakeadam]

Actually, you always need a source of ammonia when cycling at new tank. Otherwise there is no such thing as a cycle. That source can be aqua soil, fish food, decaying plant matter, actual straight ammonia, fish poop, or something else. But there has to be a source of ammonia otherwise bacteria can't grow.

i think you are right....

 

[Plinkploop]

You don't need to "cycle" the tank by adding ammonia, it doesn't serve any useful purpose and may inhibit the development of an appropriate microbial community.

I like to plant the tank and then leave it to "grow in". Have a look at <"Oxygen levels required..."> and linked threads.

If you have actively growing plants you have "plant/microbe filtration", which is much efficient and flexible than "microbe only" biofiltration.
thanks me later....

I never add ammonia, I add a table shrimp. If you're setting up a brand new, unboxed a day ago, tank with brand spanking new everything you will have to cycle your tank in order to have livestock. I've never ever NOT cycled a start up tank, be it with ammonia available from an active substrate, to using a table shrimp, to adding feeder guppies, you need to set the nitrogen process off somehow. I agree if I were just doing plants it wouldn't be as pressing but if you're trying to convince me that is can add inert substrate and plants and voila I can add whatever I want I'm gonna say you're out of your mind.

D'oh discussion played out before I posted lol