Magical Waste-free Zebra Danios?

[SierraDelta]

I'm almost brand new to aquarium managment and have recently started my second aquarium. I'm taking an "organic" approach to cycling, using zebra danios but no chemicals to speed the cycling. I'm using the API master test kit to monitor ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.

My first aquarium (16-gallon) cycled in textbook fashion: ammonia levels rose immediately upon introducing 2 zebra danios, then started to fall a few days later as nitrite levels rose. Nitrite levels stayed high for about a week, then dropped to 0 pretty much overnight. Total cycling time was a little under 3 weeks.

My second aquarium is a 29-gallon box of water. I introduced 3 zebra danios (long-finned) three days ago and have been testing the water daily, but I'm consistently getting 0.0 ppm for ammonia. I haven't tested for nitrite or nitrate since the ammonia is 0 so far. I understand that levels will change more graduatlly in a 29-gallon tank versus a 16-gallon tank, but shouldn't I see some ammonia after 3 days? Or are these danios magical non-waste-producing fish?

 

[Shrimper]

I've got a few ideas why you can't see any amonia but can't say for certain...

1) How long have you had the test kit? They only have a limited lifespan and may be too old and stopped working.
2) Have you put some of the filter media from your first tank into the filter on the new one? This will help it cycle quicker.
3) Are there any live plants in the tank? They could be using the amonia.

Other than that i'm stumped!

 

[Spooky76]

What type of filter are you running ?
Might be worth testing for Nitrate just to see if its already cycled.

 

[SierraDelta]

Just to follow-up...

The aquarium did a stealth-cycle!

I checked the ammonia level every day, but never did get any ammonia reading. After a few days, I decided to check the nitrite and nitrate levels just for kicks. There was a moderate nitrite and a low nitrate level. A few days later, the cycle had completed.

I guess I have a lot of nitrifying bacteria floating around in the air here.