Is my tank cycled?

Hi. I recently bought my 2nd tank - a 28g and decided to try fishless cycling on it. On Monday, I filled it, treated it for chlorine, and used 4g from my established tank. I also put in stress zyme.

On Tuesday morning, I started following these directions http://www.guppylog.com/story/2006/2/19/1538/39830 for cycling. I put 14 drops of ammonia in the tank. I also took the filter out of my original tank and stuffed it behind the new filter.

Again, Wed morning, treated with 14 drops of ammonia. Wednesday night, I tested it. Nitrites: 0 Nitrates: 20 Ammonia: 1.0

Thursday morning, 12 drops. Right now, Thursday evening, it's Nitrites: 0 Nitrates: 20 (maybe 30) Ammonia: 0.5

I'm a little confused. These instructions say that when Nitrates have begun to register and the nitrites and ammonia are 0 that the tank is cycled. OK, ammonia is not 0, but it's close and I wonder if it's because I have put in too much ammonia per "step two", where I should be putting in 6-8 drops in 28g?

Is it possible to be cycled or almost cycled so quickly? Maybe because I put the filter media from the established tank in (the filter was in for 5 weeks so it was very messy).

What do you think?

Thanks very much for your help.

John

Thanks Maxilara!

LOL... well, this all started with my 4 year old winning two goldfish at a fair 6 weeks ago. "Tails" died the next day, "Sonic" later in the week. We promised him that we'd replace the fish at Petsmart on the weekend. So, we came home with 4 Zebra danios and 2 female guppies (one standard gold, one blue) and 1 male guppy (blue).

That was 5 weeks ago. Bet you can tell what happened? Sunday night, we had 52 fish in the tank as "Princess Peach" had at least 45. I caught most of them, though I did let some be eaten. But, I still have 24 five-day old fry in a net breeder and a plastic breeding box in the 10g tank.

The 10g is a Top Fin starter kit. We are using the Top Fin multicolored gravel in both tanks. A little mountain in the middle, and 3, now pretty destroyed, live plants. I'm not 100% sure what they are, but 2 of the plants started breaking off at their stems and then free floating in the water. The other one, thin and tall, with very fine "threads"(leaves?), almost like the branches of a Christmas tree except thinner and lighter green. My wife thinks it's some sort of sea fern. But, the entire bottom half of this plant is now nearly devoid of these "threads". I don't know if the fish are somehow ripping them out, or what is going on. They plug up my filter intake tube nicely.

So, with the new tank, I gave up on the idea of live plants. The new tank is a 28g Top Fin Bowfront starter kit. My son chose a castle as well as 2 artificial plants. One is tall and spidery, the other has very broad leaves, spots, and strange colors. It looks kinda fake, but he was happy with them.

Now, what to put in it? I'm pondering many different things. I'm partially thinking to separate the male and female guppies, including any fry that I keep. I have been toying with the idea of getting a few different guppies and mating them too, it is REALLY cool, but I am afraid of having 611,000 fish at the end of the year I guess, I'm open to suggestions... but I am looking at small, peaceful fish.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for the warm welcome. I'll try to get a picture to post soon. This hobby sure is an addiction.

John

Sorry Chris, didnt realize this was the salt water section. You did misunderstand me though. The goldfish died 2 months ago and were replaced by guppies and zebra danios. This one plant wasn't bought until after the goldfish were gone. Last night, I was watching the male guppy nibbling up and down the stem of that plant where the leaves are gone. I suspect he's the cause of the bareness.

Psych. LOL. My slowness is only going to be in deciding what I want and to leave room for some fry to grow up.

Thanks guys.

John