To plant or not?

[Jennkp]

I have a newly set up (3 weeks) cycling 30gallon tank with 3 zebra danios. Right now my ammonia levels are reading between .50 & 2.0 so I'm doing 50% water changes every other day, but I have no nitrite or nitrate readings so far. I have the API ammonia kit & will be gettin the master kit this weekend as lsf is out of them. Anyway I want to plant the tank I think, what are good plants to start with? What would you recommend?

 

[shellieca]

Wow those are some ammonia levels, you may want to do more than one water change in a day to get the ammonia closer to zero if not zero. My 10g fish IN didn't show nitrItes until week 6 & completed cycling at week 8. As far as plants, it depends a little on your lighting & how much effort you want to put into them. Simple plants IME, such as amazon swords, annubias, java fern, hornwort, anachris. I have 5 tanks & certain plants are doing better in some tanks than others not sure why but I go with the flow & work with it by trial & error.

 

[Jennkp]

Yesterday the ammonia level was at .25 & I did a 50% water change the day before. I will be doing another 50% in just a few minutes. How long should I wait before I test the ammonia again? Immediately?

 

[shellieca]

I tested every 24 hrs, if my ammonia or nitrites or >.25 I'd do my 50%+ water change, wait about an hour then retest the water, if still >.25 I'd do another water change.

 

[Jennkp]

Thanks I'll try that!

 

[ktomminello]

I would test and change everyday until you drop below .25, I would hate to see someone lose interest in aquariums because of an extended and/or stalled cycles. If your ammonia levels are at 2 for any extended amount of time your fish will be affected, fins will 'melt' blah blah, I'm not gonna preach, but another thing it's going to affect- your nitrites, then nitrates, phosphates, all of which are lethal to your little ones. Until you've gone through the complete cycle process (0 ammonia, 0 trites, 0 trAtes, ph stable between 6.8 and 7.2 for a week) that you do a couple of gallons water change per day and maybe try out nutrafin cycle, seachem stability, API StartZyme+ to boost beneficial bacteria (odds are 50/50 on that one). Best of luck

 

[Jennkp]

I started with the start zyme & I don't know if it did anything or not. I definitely won't be losing interest I've put in too much time to turn back now. This isn't my first tank, but it's been years & all I did then was put in water that had been conditioned & my fish. I had 2 angelfish & 2 black skirt tetras for 4-5 years before they passed after that I put everything away. I'm starting to see I just got really lucky with them as I didn't put in anywhere near the amount of time & energy as I have with this tank & I really want it to be successful.

 

[Jennkp]

Oh & just to clarify I didn't mean I was goin out to by plants today or right away for that matter. Just once it's completely cycled & stable I'd like to plant the tank.

 

[ktomminello]

I see. I would plant, then again I'm obsessed, lol

My 10g plants- ludwigia repens, crypts, anubias, tropical fern, 2 tiger lotus', pond lily and peace lily.

 

[ktomminello]

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/391798_504171726288317_923720097_n.jpg

Try that again

 

[Jennkp]

Love those colors!! The gravel is a red color in the tank & I have a temple decoration & a Buddha so is like to plant it across the back once it's done. Oh I just tested as well & it's been over an hour & the ammonia level is between .25 & .50 so ill be doing another water change by the end of the night.

 

[ktomminello]

Thanks!! Good luck!! I love using reds, pinks and purples for some reason. If you want to get into planting I'd recommend Malaysian bogwood for a driftwood 'anchor' for floated rooting for plants, and injecting ferts to the root area to help grow bulbs..... Lighting gets complicated too, but I digress, lol