I've Kept 5 Tanks. Why Can't This Tank Cycle?!

Tank Stats

• 20 gallon tall hexagon tank (24 inches tall for reference)
• Sword plants, and some Anubias plants, nothing fancy.
• A single male betta
• Ammonia: .25-.5, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 0

Here's the deal y'all. We decided to do an in fish cycle because bettas are fairly hardy and we want to get fish in the tank before I have to leave for college again. I know this is a super debated topic, I usually only do fishless cycling, but this is a betta who is super hardy and I always make sure to use prime to keep the ammonia from hurting him.

Anyways, the tank just will not cycle. It's been at a steady .25-.5 ppm of ammonia for 2 weeks now. Nothing else has ever showed up in the tank, and I don't understand why.

I've tried adding filtered media from my tank into the tank (i.e swishing it in the 20 gal water). i've tried Stability, I've tried adding in lots of food. I don't know what else to do.

I will mention the filter itself already has a ton of gunk on it. lots of bacteria is already built. I just don't understand how it's there if ammonia is still showing up, and the tank never showed any nitrites/nitrates before...

Please help!

 

Don't add bacteria until 24 hours after you've dosed with prime. I think it binds the ammonia to where the added bacteria can't use it. Try Tetra Safe Start. It cycled my 55 gallon tank in two weeks.

 

Don't add bacteria until 24 hours after you've dosed with prime. I think it binds the ammonia to where the added bacteria can't use it. Try Tetra Safe Start. It cycled my 55 gallon tank in two weeks.

I'll have to try tetra safe start. thanks.

 

Also I'm not sure lots of gunk translates into beneficial bacteria necessarily. Unconditioned water can kill bacteria making the gunk useless for example

 

Could you add established media from another tank into this ones filter, instead of swishing it around?

Also, have you considered going in store and getting it tested for you to ensure your test kit hasn't expired or something?

 

Could you add established media from another tank into this ones filter, instead of swishing it around?

Also, have you considered going in store and getting it tested for you to ensure your test kit hasn't expired or something?

The test kit, on each individual bottle anyways, says it doesn't expire until 2022. So I feel like it should be fine... otherwise nowhere to test the water. unfortunately.

I can try adding in some sponge from another tank.