Why certain plants cause high ammonia levels

[rockyfox]

You don't need a lot of red root floater, it's a rapid grower. I got a small amount for my 23 litre tank and now I'm constantly getting rid of excess. It's getting to the point where I have to dispose of handfuls every month, sometimes less. Today, it was almost an inch deep, so I ended up throwing about half of it away.

That's quite a lot... I think a small bunch would be a good starting point then.

[bronze_shield]

I've got a pretty good plant selection going on - 5 java ferns, 4 anubias coffeefolia, loads of java moss, and a bunch of red root floaters. Now I'm wondering, can they handle ammonia levels of 3ppm while the tank's cycling?

Your mum might be worried about the number of plants, but I think you've got the wrong types for the job, apart from the floaters. I've said it before, but it bears repeating: plants are only useful for cycling if they're growing fast and using up ammonia.

Slow-growing plants like your java ferns and anubias just won't cut it - they use hardly any ammonia because they're not growing quickly. On the other hand, fast-growing plants like the red root floaters will use up ammonia quickly, which is exactly what you need during the cycling process.

So, while I think your mum might have a point about the number of plants, I think the bigger issue is that you've chosen plants that aren't well-suited to the task at hand.

[bronze_shield]

I've got a pretty good plant selection going on - 5 java ferns, 4 anubias coffeefolia, loads of java moss, and a bunch of red root floaters. Now I'm wondering, can they handle ammonia levels of 3ppm while the tank's cycling?

One significant issue is people often thoroughly research the fish they buy, but rarely put in the same effort when it comes to their plants. Unfortunately, this lack of research leads to plant deaths, and they end up writing off plants as not being for them.

[rockyfox]

I've been doing some research online and I've come across some people saying that ammonia levels of 3ppm can be really bad for aquatic plants, almost like they "melt" or something. I know I tend to overdo it with the research, but I just want to make sure I'm prepared.

[whetu]

I always advise people to kick off with stemmed plants, then progress to the rest - you're doing it in reverse. A few of the plants you've chosen are slow-growing and challenging to establish; what you need is to create an environment that fosters plant growth.