[Bolsen27]

I currently have a 40 gal long tank that is in the process of cycling. The ammonia is currently at a 5ppm lvl. no nitrites or nitrates yet. We have a 20 gal tank that is cycled already and has lots of live plants in it currently. Some of which we want to move over to the bigger tank.

Should we wait until the cycle is complete before we add live plants or is it okay to add them now?

 

[discuspaul]

Go ahead & add them now - they should help out with your cycling as they could shorten the time it takes for your cycle to fully complete, since they should deal with some of the ammonia, as well as bringing in some additional nitrifying bacteria with them, from the leaves and roots.

 

[Wannaberooted]

You can add them now, and it should help speed up the cycling.

 

[Byakuya]

Add them; they use nitrites and will make the cycle shorter

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[BBradbury]

Plants in a Cycling Tank

I currently have a 40 gal long tank that is in the process of cycling. The ammonia is currently at a 5ppm lvl. no nitrites or nitrates yet. We have a 20 gal tank that is cycled already and has lots of live plants in it currently. Some of which we want to move over to the bigger tank.

Should we wait until the cycle is complete before we add live plants or is it okay to add them now?

Hello Bol...

By all means, move whatever plants you want. The plants will use the nitrogen as food and help with the cycling process. Plants tolerate acidic water very well.

The microscopic bugs that use nitrogen for food, will live and grow on any surface inside the tank. So, if you can move a little gravel, a decoration or media from the cycled tank to the new one, this will help speed the cycling process a little too.

B

 

[Bolsen27]

Awesome. Thanks for all the replies! Tonight when I work on stacking my new cichlid stones I'll move some plants over.