I am getting 55 gallon tank soon and I think I know how to cycle it but can someone tell me if i am wrong or right. I am going to put all the gravel, decorations, and live plants in there. I am going to have the filter and heater running. Then I am going to put In a pinch of fish food everyday. Then the food will create ammonia. Then I will wait about 3 or 4 weeks and test my water every once and a while and when the ammonia goes too zero and the nitrates are below 40 pp. after It reaches that level, can I put fish in?
If you go with live plants, they can do the "cycling" for you. You need some fast growers, and floating are the best for this. Once the tank is set up and running with the plants, you just add the first few fish. Gradually add the intended fish a few days apart so as not to overwhelm the system.
Yes. The plants need nitrogen, and their preferred form is ammonium (ammonia), so they grab it. Provided there are not too many fish, and the plants are numerous and fast-growing, they will take up almost all of the ammonia the fish produce. Some will still get to the bacteria, but the advantage with plants is that they use the ammonia without producing nitrite which is also toxic. So it is much easier on the fish.
Just plant the tank well, and have good floating plants.
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