New Tank Confusion ?

Hello all!! I have currently started a new 20 gallon long in my bedroom. I started this tank Feb 28, just like 2 days ago. I tested my water upon starting... I got
Ammonia - .25 (This is what my tap water is)
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5ppm (This is what my tap water is)
P.h - 7.6

Today's Test:

Ammonia - .25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10 ppm
P.h - 7.6

I did take an old filter that was still in my current living room tank out and place it in the new filter along with plants that have been sitting in the old one for quite some time. I didn't move any gravel over cause I wanted to give sand a go. I did put 2 small danios in there, I figured they are small and hardy and may help aid in the Nitrogen cycle .... My question is...…

When will I know its cycled? I know it's only been a couple days, I'm just trying to do this right, its always been so confusing for me, and I have read so many articles on it (Nitrogen cycle). Should I see a spike in something? It looks like my nitrates is the only thing that is elevating. I don't wanna do a water change, cause most articles say to wait a couple weeks.

Thanks soooo much, ive never been this into fish before and I finally bought the API master test kit and I'm going crazy with it lol!

 

Be sure to do the directions on the 2 Nitrate test bottles ( especially the 2nd bottle ) to a tee so you get an accurate reading. Great idea testing your source water. You always want to know what your adding to your tank.

 

Yup. I've read them and made sure they were all correct. Here's my nitrate test tube today

 

You’ll see an ammonia spike, then your nitrites spike. It will then drop down and when your ammonia and nitrites are 0 is when your cycled. You’ll see a small spike each time you add more fish until the bacteria catch up.

 

Yeah see that's what I thought... Ammonia spikes first then that goes down when nitrites spike... Then nitrites go down then nitrates rises... But it's like tank skipped step 1 & 2 and slowly my nitrates are rising. That's why I'm scratching my head here lol

 

If the bioload in your living room tank is much larger than the new tank, it's possible the filter you moved into the new tank is enough to cycle with the small bioload. That would mean it's enough to handle the two danios. If that's the case you can add fish to the new tank very slowly. Keep a close eye on your water test readings while you increase the bioload in the new tank.

 

Okay.. See that makes sense now.. Yes living room tank is much larger with about 15 fish in it and its been going a long time. Thanks so much for replying everyone and helping me, I thought I was losing my mind lol.

 

the ammonia should still go down to zero at any point though. since it's being added to a cycled tank the ammonia should still work through the cycle and come out at the end (nitrates)
disregard, read your profile more, misunderstood