New plant...water cycled?

[pinnacle2009]

Just went and got a thing of Micro Sword from LFS earlier. Tested the water it came in and:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10

Does that mean that water is cycled and the plant will help speed up the cycling of my own tank?

My Master Test Kit came in today! *thumbsups

 

[misterking]

Depends if the tank it came from has substrate and if it's attached to the roots, you're more likely to get a colony of bacteria on a hard surface such as gravel/rocks I think. Someone else might be able to give better advice.

 

[pinnacle2009]

The plant was growing in some spongy type of thing, also, if that helps answer the question.

 

[Lotus]

Yes, the tank it came from was cycled. It may add a little help to your cycle, but I wouldn't count on it cycling your tank instantly.

Plants also use up ammonia and nitrites, so it may help lessen the effects of the cycle. However, if it's one small plant in a large tank, the effect will be minimal.

 

[pinnacle2009]

Ah, so would more help or hurt the cycling?

I've read that micro sword hits a growth spurt at some point at just grows crazy, but I may go buy another small pot or two of it. Prolly wouldn't hurt to put some live plant in my 10 gallon too.

 

[blue_ram]

Does the microsword have long or short leaves? If it has long leaves, they will die off and the underwater version of the plant will start growing.

Long = 6inches or more, short = 3-6 inches.

Do not buy more, in a month you will have more than you can handle.

 

[pinnacle2009]

They are mostly 2-5 inches.