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Hi All,

I've just set up a new aquarium (A 34 Litre/9 US Gallon) four days ago, and added six Harlequin Rasbora 3 days ago.

I seeded it with a roughly 250 ml (0.07 gallon) water sample from my established 15 gallon tank.

The issue is that I am not detecting any ammonia at all, or nitrites for that matter. I was of the understanding that the ammonia built up within the first few days - especially with such a heavy stock (6 fish in one go)...

Has my cycle perhaps stalled, or is it just delayed for some reason?

Has my seeding it affected anything?

Any info would be very much appreciated. :-P

Brett C,
Auckland NZ

Last edited by geesloper at 08-Feb-2005 23:54

I know that it is much larger, but I cycled my 29 gal with 6 harleys and it took almost two weeks before i detected anything at all. then the ammonia spiked slowly and then the nitrites did also. I too, thought it would happen quicker, but was over three weeks before It was over.

Did you seed the tank with anything besides the water?

Check your nitrate.

When starting up a new tank, I too use water from an established tank, in addition I hang a filter bag with gravel in the corner, I place a few plants and normally I place rocks in the tank.

Normally I have an instant cycle never detecting any ammonia or nitrite.

Thanks for the replys.

I have been testing nitrate all along, and I haven't detected any of that, either. :-P

I seeded a very small number of pebbles, but only a small number.

Maybe add some more? If you don't want them in there long term you could put some in a sterilized filter bag and place it in the tank. I would use a cup of them if it were me.

I was hoping you would have a trace of nitrate left from that which you added to the tank. Since you don't, that means that you will have to start at ground level with the cycling process.

Good luck...

I don't know if the nitrates from the old tank would show up :-( It was only 0.07 gallons in a 9 gallon tank :-P

I would have expected at least some ammonia by now though :-P