[header] How to troubleshoot tank cycling problems [title] Test your tank water parameters. [step] People without basic test kits often have a poor time cycling tanks, and it is because water parameters are like air and food quality to humans. This includes ph, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. 
Test strips are often vague/unclear, so many people use test kits like the freshwater master test kit (for freshwater) and other kits involving glass tube and water samples. Too high levels of ammonia can be overwhelming for the bacteria to eat.