Heavy planting is thought to help shorten, or even eliminate, the cycling period. Generally, most stem plants or floating plants, which tend to be fast growing and nutrient hungry, are fine for cycling.... you can replace them with other species later on. Adding a handful (3-4) hardy fish initially could kick-start the nitrogen cycle as well. the cycling period is usually seen as over when NH4 and NO2 levels are very very low and stable.... NO3 up to 10 ppm is ok for planted tanks.
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