Hi, welcome to FK,

A cycled tank should show no ammonia or nitrITE. Your tank will only be cycled if both these test 0 after 12 hours so I would carry on dosing ammonia to 3ppm as you have been doing. The nitrATE showing is probably present in your tap water to start with.

Never seen these fish before. They're absolutely beautiful!

As soon as you get your 200litre tank up and running I would do as Nathan suggested and move your fish out of the biorb and into the new tank. Tbe greater water volume will dilute ammonia and nitrite making the cycle a little safer for the fish. Follow a fish in cycle from then.

Hi Sarah, welcome to FK.

Seachem prime will protect your fishies from any ammonia in the water while your filter recovers. Prime is used as a water conditioner and in emergencies can be used in larger quantities to convert ammonia to a non toxic form that is used by the filter.

Am assuming that you removed any carbon from the filter before starting any treatment?
I have read a few posts that point to some water conditioners being responsible for certain meds not working as they should. Might be worth posting which one you use.
Hopefully one or two of the fab advisers will be on later to help.

Hoping snow stops. Towing our caravan to Shropshire tomorrow, so not relishing the prospect of slip sliding all the way there

Tesco play sand looks pretty good in my trop tank. I have lots of Malasian trumpet snails burrowing their way through it to minimise the chances of gas pockets. A weekly stirr up and clean is all that's required.

Congrats. Lovely little fish. Should colour up nicely once they settle in.

A very odd looking arrangement.
What happens if the fish meet going in opposite directions? Be a bit of a #OOPS# to clean too.
Not sure it's gonna be top of my 'things to buy' list.

Brilliant news for the fishies! Think they landed on their fins getting you for a mom. Most would have plonked them in the tiny bowl and not thought anything of it.
Well done you!