Can rotting plants help the cycling process?

trillian1973

Hello all!

I am finishing my cycle fishless after the original occupant died due in part to my lack of knowledge. :( I have ammonia at 4.0, and nitrates at 0.25 at this point, but upon return from vacation, I see that my plants have not sprouted and have grown some kind of white fungus on them. So....should I remove the rotting plants, or should I leave them until the tank finishes cycling? Will they help with the bacteria buildup at all?

Also, what do I do now in the cycling process? I want to do it right this time and not add fish until the tank is fully prepared, so any help is appreciated! Thanks!

Byron

First on the readings, did you really mean nitrate at .25, or nitrite? If it is actually nitrite, that is good, you are in the second stage (ammonia I assume is dropping and nitrite is now rising). As you are doing a fishless cycle, I assume you are adding ammonia whenever the readng drops below 5 (if that was your starting point)?

Second on the dying plants, any decaying vegetation produces ammonia. But that only lasts as long as the vegetation is still decaying. When it's fiished, the ammonia will not be there and the bacteria will die back accordingly; however, the tank will hopefully be cycled by then. If it were me, I would remove any dead plant material to be on the safe side and avoid complicating things, esp given the presence of fungus or something.

trillian1973

oh sorry I meant nitrites were at 0.25! Thanks for your help, I will remove the plants and continue to add ammonia. I did start at 5, and the ammonia was at 4, so I will add more here in a few minutes. Hopefully I will be cycled soon! Thanks again!