Cycling questions

[Noviceafter2yea]

I began cycling a 14 gallon on 9-9-14.
There are no fish.
There is mowpani wood.

I am using a filter bag that has been in my fully cycled 20 gallon and the bag has been in the 20 gallon for about 2 months.

The 14 gallon came with a charcoal filter bag that I rinsed to get the dust out and then I put that new bag inside of the 2 month old bag.

For the first 5 gallons of the 14, I used recycled water from my 20 gallon which was vacuum water.

How long would you estimate it will be cycled and safe for my about 10 week old platy fry that are living in my cycled 5.5 gallon QT? Both are at the same temp.

My readings on 9-11 were:
Am - about 2.5
N2 - .25
N3 - 10
Ph - 8.1


Today, 9-13 my readings are:
Am - .75
N2 - 3.5
N3 - 15
Ph - 8.2

Do the sharp rises and falls mean the tank is cycling or am I looking at a problem?

Thanks.

 

[dalto]

Looks like it is going pretty well. Hard to tell how long it will take until the nitrite starts to drop.

I would guess a week or 2 more at most. Could be a lot less though since you have old media in there. You seem to be making good progress at only 4 days in.