Cycling 55gal Tank With Plants???

jak61

I am starting a new 55 gal tank with the intention of making it a planted tank. It is going through a fishless cycle by using liquid ammonia, which I just got started a few days ago. Ammonia levels are around 5ppm. I have read that plants consume the ammonia and other substances in the water. My question is, can I go ahead in enter the plants to the tank or should I wait until the cycle is complete?

herefishy

While it is true that plants do help control ammonia by absorbing the nitrogen, too high of an ammonia reading can burn the leaves. Be careful and take ammonia readings regularly.

fish_4_all

I agree, as long as the levels stay around 10ppm or lower they should be fine. I have cycled 3 tanks with plants with few problems. Slow growth and some minor trimming but plants were fine after the cycle. Just choose hardy plants to cycle with, crypts would be a bad idea as well as Vals and any fine leaf plants like Hornwort or ambulia.