Why Is My Qt Not Cycled?

[stanleo]

I started a quarantine tank yesterday and I put media from my display tank in the filter to instantly cycle the tank. I didn't want to trust that it was cycled so I put in 2ppm ammonia to test the cycle. Its 24 hrs later and my readings are
 
pH 7.6
Ammonia 2ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
 
I didn't bother testing Nitrate.
 
What is going on? Here's some pics if that helps.
 

 

 

 
Its a 10gl tank with a temp of 75F and a HOB filter rated for 10gl. 

 

[stanleo]

Anybody have any ideas?

 

[attibones]

Might not have been enough media or the other tank hasn't sufficiently grown bacteria. The other tank is cycled, yes? And the media was not allowed to dry out? Have you got fish in the donor tank?

 

[stanleo]

The other tank is my 55gl display tank that was fishless cycled and setup at the beginning of August with 35 fish in it. I test with water changes every 5 days and never get a reading of ammonia or nitrite. But maybe the media I grabbed isn't that strong with bacteria? Is that possible? I stuffed as much as I could in the tank and put it in right away without it getting dry.

 

[Mamashack]

Not all the bacteria are in the filter - some may be in the substrate etc. 
If you want to kickstart the process add some Tetra Safe Start or Dr Tim's One and Only. I've just set up a QT tank and used a spare filter that had been running in the 60L tank for months - however the bacteria in it weren't sufficient to call it cycled so I added a total of 50 ml Safe Start to a 19L tank and it was cycled in a couple of days.

 

[stanleo]

Thanks for the tip, Mamashack. I will try that. I don't want to go through another cycle right now.