Not so sold on Walstad in practice as I was in theory

@Nativeplanter. I am using API Stresszyme which is used for chlorine and chloramine.

I am to date getting NO nitrite or nitrate readings. Ammonia was dark green. I did a water change of about 80% of the water last night. Got it down to near zero. Didn't want to get it that low but anyway, that shows it is not a reading that is due to the water change.

I had a lot of API Ammo-lock in there initially. I am hoping that lead to a false ammonia reading. I still haven't lost any fish and the few stressed looking ones seem to be recovering.

It is like the nitrogen cycle is paused. I will give it time and see where it goes.

I have added established gravel, used bottled bacteria cultures (some swear by them some call them snake juice), would say I have a heavy plant load in comparison to my fish load.

Googling - Aquarium won't cycle - and seeing what I find.

OK, this explains a lot. Ammo-lock (and other similar products) will put the ammonia into a non-toxic form, but your test kit will still react with it. So if you put in a real lot, it is quite plausable that you did indeed put the cycle on "pause", and ammonia generated by your fish was immobilized. So, as schambers said, it can screw up your cycle. As a result, your ammonia test kit is useless. Since you've changed a lot of the water, things should start moving along, and you will start to see nitrite/nitrates. But I wouldn't worry about the ammonia readings for now.

Just had to do a major water change because I covered my gravel in sand. I also added zeolite to my HOB filter. Right now all readings are at 0 including ammonia. If the tank is in fact not cycled yet I am hoping some comes back.

Anyway, since covering the gravel in sand (fine play sand) the cloudiness is cleared. Took 24 hours but it is pretty close to crystal. One of my light fixtures are 50/50 with actinic so the blue may be appearing as a light cloudiness still. Time will tell but for the most part it is clear.

Also the fish LOVE the sand vs the gravel. They come out from their hiding spots A LOT more. A lot being an understatement. The tank has come to life.

So I say all of that to say I am for now a fan of the soil/sand substrate. Walstad recommends a very shallow sand layer. I read FarmerTodds write up on substrate on his Ultimate Native Aquarium article and he recommends deep sand. Mine is fairly deep. So if all goes well it will get my stamp of approval as well.

Ok, starting to have success finally. Substrate is bubbling along with the fish kill which tells me the soil is coming to life finally. Ammonia is dropping significantly. No nitrites yet. Plants are flourishing.

My advice is to not assume the tank will be instantly cycled but despite the bumps in the road (one being a fish kill ) I am liking my results so far. Tank just has a natural look and aura to it.

Finally.............have nitrites and nitrates. Problem is still have ammonia.

The ammonia should continue to drop as the nitrite and nitrate continue to grow. It just takes a little time.