Possible to cycle too long?

[NilusFishFamily]

We started out our cycle trying to transfer some good bacteria from our old tank the filter media and a little old gravel then added ammonia. The gravel is planned to be removed to go for a more natural river rock bottom.

The ammonia was too high, ph was too high, we then switched tactics and through some quick start in and a (frozen) shrimp -just from cooking...

now the chem levels look good but high nitrates and there’s an algae and odor problem. The plan was for a water change then add our babies (15” pleco and 4” goldfish) but now I’m a little scared...

Is it *really* safe?

 

[Fishnerd360]

Maybe do a large water change and add a small bag of carbon to the filter, that might help. Is the shrimp still in there? If it is, then take it out.
How high is your nitrates right now?

 

[Oughtsix]

How long has the tank been cycling?

The first few months of starting up a new tank after it has cycled I do at least weekly water tests and change the water if ammonia or nitrites start to register. If you keep a close eye on the water parameters and do water changes if they get high the fish should be fine. It would probably be a good idea to have some active carbon and ammonia chips on hand to provide some immediate nitrogen compound adjustment if needed.