[GSAS-Member] Nitrogen Cycle - a slow start?

[Michael Staeb <mikeycpa@gmail.com>]

Greetings all!  I'm sorry I missed out on what sounds to have been an
amazing meeting last night.  Looking forward to seeing the video!

However I have an issue (or at least I think it may be one) with my
new tank.  I've made my first leap into a larger tank from my one 6g
to a 29g.  Set it up, planted it, and introduced 4 zebra danios as
pilot fish to initiate the nitrogen cycle.  I've been testing the
water and adding nitrifying bacteria every 3-4 days since.  It's now
been two weeks and the pH has steadily risen to 7.6, the high pH
doesn't read on the scale of my API master test kit and
ammonia/nitrite/nitrate have all consistently remained at 0.  I've
tried added water from my 9 mo old 6g tank and tried using dirty
filter media from the 6g tank to get things started in the 29g without
success.  After about 5-6 days started getting some algae blooms (some
brown, some green hair).  Added a pair of otos and they're working
away on that.

I've done some reading online and from what I can tell, the ammonia
levels should at least be reading something by now.  Any advice to a
new GSAS member and novice aquarist?

To further complicate things I've got a few snails appearing, just
showed up on Sunday.  They don't appear to be doing anything negative
so far and are not rapidly proliferating but I'm keeping a close watch
on them.  I've tried to identify the species but until they grow
larger it's a bit difficult.

All the best,
-M-
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