20 gallon cycling 2 weeks?

Hello
New to the forum with a question on cycling.
(First post/ via mobile app)

Set up my 20 gallon tall 2 weeks ago with 1 Panda Cory, 1 CT Betta, 3 Harley Rasbora.

I let it sit with plants for about a week and then added fish for the last 2 (3 wks total)
The strips I have didnt work as well as I wanted so I got the API Master kit.

The issue is that I'm seeing 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 20ppm nitrate
The ph is 6.8

Many of the plants and about 5 gallons of water were from the old tank as well as using the old filter for the first week.

So I'm wondering if its really cycled or not?
Thanks

 

Welcome to fishlore!
It looks cycled to me. Did you use anything like Tetra Safe Start?

There's some stocking issues, if you are willing to hear them.

 

Just gonna say but harlequins and cories should be in a group of 6+ or more since they are schooling/shoaling fish.

 

Welcome to Fishlore

Did you also test your tap water for nitrates just to make sure they're not coming from there?

 

Ya tested all with the API master kit

Just gonna say but harlequins and cories should be in a group of 6+ or more since they are schooling/shoaling fish.

I was thinking they would need more pals.

Ive added 2 more Harleys and an Oto as well

Welcome to fishlore!
It looks cycled to me. Did you use anything like Tetra Safe Start?

There's some stocking issues, if you are willing to hear them.

Nothing like that...I'm suprised as you.

Yes please, any input would be great

 

The betta prefers warmer temps than panda cories, plus the cories and the harlequin rasboras should be in groups of 6+ of their own species. So 6 pandas and 6 harlequins minimum.

But I'd first get the betta it's own tank, they don't often do well in communities.

 

The betta prefers warmer temps than panda cories, plus the cories and the harlequin rasboras should be in groups of 6+ of their own species. So 6 pandas and 6 harlequins minimum.

But I'd first get the betta it's own tank, they don't often do well in communities.

Ahh I never knew that about Cories.

Betta and Rasbora actually share space in the wild so I thought id give it a shoot and it works out perfectly.
Never an aggressive gesture by either of them, I have 5 Rasbora now but they get about 2" so I'm concerned about overstock down the road?

 

My tank is a 20gal tall

 

Ahh I never knew that about Cories.

Betta and Rasbora actually share space in the wild so I thought id give it a shoot and it works out perfectly.
Never an aggressive gesture by either of them, I have 5 Rasbora now but they get about 2" so I'm concerned about overstock down the road?

Overstocking will not be an issue, but aggression probably will be.
They share space in the wild but that doesn't mean they get along there. Bettas aggressively defend their territory in the wild.

 

Yeah agree! Bettas are either aggressive or they are shy and they get stressed by the moving fish. In the wild Bettas defend their territory thus there are normally not a lot of fish in there area since most fish will stay away. This is the reason why they don't do well in communities especially in smaller tanks. I forget the number but Bettas have a pretty big territory in the wild.

 

Thanks for the input.

I actually did have him in his own 6gal. A couple weeks ago and he didnt dig it.
Just sat on the bottom.
Hes very active now and has a few spots that are certainly his own in the tank.
I introduced him slowly, first in a separation basket and then let him out after about a week when he realized there was no threat from the other fish.

Idk if it would work out if the tank werent 20gal. My goal is to get a 30 long so he can hunt shimp (favorite past time, cost me $50)