Nitrites - Why Are They Zero Please?

[IceyBlack]

Hello,
I hope somebody can help.
I have been trying to cycle my new (and first) tank.
It has 37 gallons of water and 6 (rather dead looking now) plants.
I added ammonia in the quantity I had worked out and tested for about 5 days with no change - then it went to zero.
The guidance in an article I read here was that I then add ammonia again to take it up, and begin testing for nitrites - which I did.
Whilst for what is the thrid time now the ammonia reading is steadily going down - no sign of any nitrites at all.
Am I doing something wrong?
What can I do?
Any advice warmly appreciated

 

[sjolliff]

Nitrites can take ages to show,

Ammonia=Nitrites=nitrates

You should of seen nitrites if you are down to 0 ammonia
what ammonia are you using?
Yes you add 5ppm of ammonia till you get a nitrite spike

I did my 1st cycle with plants, but now iv just got water and sand

Tips for fishless cycle tank temp 29c, PH 8-8.4

 

[meguro]

Make sure you don't have any ammonia absorbing material in your filter.

 

[sjolliff]

Make sure you don't have any ammonia absorbing material in your filter.

Very good point

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with the above points. Also, if the ammonia is now reaching a pattern of dropping to zero within a day, be aware that you only ever add ammonia once per 24 hours and its best if you establish a regular time for this. It won't matter if the bacteria don't have ammonia for the better part of a day. Instead its better not to overload the overall system with too much ammonia.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[rdd1952]

Do you have a nitrate reading? I guess it's possible, though not likely, that the nitrite is being processed into nitrate already. I would think the filter media would be the place to start looking. If you have some type media such as nitra-zorb or ammo chips, then that would be where it is going.