Anacharis looking sick and tank not cycling

LisaLB24

I'm trying to do a fishless cycle in my 10gallon using a prawn. Ammonia has been sitting around 5ppm for 3 weeks now, no nitrites or nitrates. Ph is 7.4 temperature sits around 78-79. planted with two bunches of Anacharis and annubias on a driftwood. I got maybe a 1/4 cup of gravel from a friends tank about a week ago thinking it might get things going but so far NO fluctuation whatsoever with ammonia. I treated with prime when I first stated up and have added Florapride for the plants but otherwise have left it alone. I know it can take a while but I would think I should have seen some change by now? And now, the Anacharis is looking see-through and wimpy. What the heck am I doing wrong?

tanker

The cycle in my 35-litre tank (when I had it) took 5 weeks and 5 days, with fish and in my 75-litre (when I had it) 6 weeks and 1 day. I remember waiting for nitrites to appear and it did seem to take an age. I don't know how fishless and cycling with fish compare, but you might need to be patient for a while longer and it will happen eventually.

zof

Give it time, have you been testing for nitrites to see if those are rising?