Fishless Cycling

[scottiedogluvr]

I'm new here and trying to figure everything out.  I got a 5 gallon tank for Christmas.  I'm doing a fishless cycle.  I've had the tank up and running for about 2 weeks now.  I just tested the water yesterday.  These are the results.
 
PH 7.6
 
Ammonia 0.50
 
Nitrate 5.0
 
Nitrite 2.0
 
Should I be putting any chemicals into the tank to reduce the ammonia, PH, Nitrate and Nitrite?  Or do I just leave it alone and let it cycle on its own?
 
 

 

[fluttermoth]

You should be adding a source of ammonia and that's all, apart from a dechlorinator if you have to change any water (if the nitrate gets very high, or your pH gets very low, for instance). The idea of fishless cycling is that you add ammonia and wait until you have enough bacteria in your filter to eat it; you don't want to be reducing it in any other way.

The same applies to the nitrite.

Although there are products that reduce nitrate, in normal set ups you reduce that with your regular, weekly water changes.

Changing pH, especially lowering it, is very difficult and it's best left as it is.

 

[Chad]

Give this article a read it should answer all your questions.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first/