When starting up a new tank using the fishless cycle method, should I
include aquatic plants or just the gravel and driftwood?

If this is going to be a high-light, CO2-injected tank, consider using Chuck's
no-cycle method:

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_newtank.htm

If you can't do this, leave the plants out until after the tank has cycled.
The high ammonia levels you get during a fishless cycle will cause algae
problems. Put the plants in at the same time as the fish.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/