Yes, it is ok to set up your fish tank without plants at first and add them later. I haven't had live plants (I don't think they are worth my effort, but that is my own personal opinion), but I did a little research to see what a good substrate would be, and I found EcoComplete. It has essential nutrients in it to help plants flourish. I did check to see if it is safe for fish (because if you add your fish first and the plants later I didn't know if the EcoComplete would harm the fish if the plants aren't taking up the nutrients). It says that it is safe for fish - that it does increase the pH slightly at first, but then it would go down after a while. It also says that if the plants aren't taking up the nutrients that algae blooms are sure to happen. I'm not sure about your filter question, we'll have to wait to see what others say about that, but I can say that you could probably just set the new filter in the tank so the bacteria can start to live in the new filter. That way it shouldn't interrupt the cycle.

Hope this helps.
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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

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