Finally! After a month (or so) of waiting and trying a variety of store-bought options, I did what I should have done in the beginning: I contacted Todd from the Raleigh Aquarium Society and asked him if I could have some used, hopefully teeming with bacteria gravel. Last night I was able to make the trip to his house, and he graciously gave me several nets full of gravel. When I got it home, I placed some on the top of the tank’s mechanical filter pad, and the remainder I spread over the gravel already in the tank.
Today, when I did my usual aquarium chemistry tests I was delighted to see that the bacteria have begun to set up shop in my aquarium! The nitrite test which for weeks has been Carolina blue, is now finally turning a lovely purple color, and the Nitrate test a golden (mead-like) color! Things are finally going somewhere.
And if this all wasn’t good enough, I find out that Todd is also a homebrewer and allowed me to sample some of his wares. Most excellent! I’m now looking forward to the next Carboy meeting.