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It is perfectly normal for nitrite first appear after many weeks into the cycle. Once you have nitrite reading, things will be going rather quickly. You do not need to change water until nitrate is too high, because the process of creating nitrate is acidic. Once the water buffer is gone, it...

Tetra SafeStart is not a chemical. It is live bacteria of both species (one convert ammonia into nitrite, the other convert nitrite into nitrate) required for aquarium nitrogen cycle. It is proven working with no ill effect. You might want to get an air pump. Canister filter spray bar...

During the fishless cycling, you might want to remove activate carbon pad in your EHEIM filter. I have a 2213, so I know the stock filter media has a carbon pad. It might absorb a tiny amount of ammonia. Ammonia can also decrease on its own because it can be released into the atmosphere...

There is no fixed time since the condition in everyone's tank is not the same. My first fishless cycle took over 3 weeks just to see the first sign of nitrite. I did try to seed the bacteria with a decoration from a friend's established tank. My later fishless cycle were much faster with the...

Didn't you say you add ammonia daily? Then the nitrite can raise without the ammonia dropping because you are adding more and more of it.

Isn't breeder tanks quite low for their size? Many plants require tall tanks, well except for the short ones. You might want to consider a shrimp farm. Some java moss would treat them nicely.

You do not have to do one 90% water change. You can do 30%~50% each time but several times in a row. The whole idea of doing water change after the cycle is completed is to lower the nitrate, because the nitrate must be enormous after all those ammonia being converted. You must use water...

You want to get the nitrate as low as possible. I would aim for <5. Add fish no later than in 24 hours, or the bacteria will start to expire without a source of ammonia. Gratz on completing the cycle!

Thanks for the heads up. Nitrate itself is indeed not acidic. :) Although high nitrate can be used as the indication of water buffer is getting low, and PH crash might follow.

You really need to be patient. It took me more than 3 weeks just to see the first sign of nitrite. It wasn't funny without heavy seeding of live bacteria, and it can take up to 6~8 weeks for the nitrogen cycle to complete. Only the transferring of live bacteria can greatly shorten the...

Thanks for pointing out, When the nitrate build up too high during my fishless cycle, the PH definitely crashed all the way from 8.0 to around 5 overnight. It could be misleading. I checked around, it seems there is no indication of nitrate itself is acidic, but the process of creating it has...

High nitrate can crash the PH and stall the cycle. Nitrate is acidic. I would do partial water change to lower the nitrate before adding the ammonia again. High temperature helps to cycle faster. No need to turn it down as long as you have air stones in there. Temperature in the high...

160ppm nitrate? I'd be surprised if your PH hasn't crashed. Several partial water changes might be needed. :) Nitrate is acidic you know.

It does not have to be that specific. Just use your sense and drop a few small drops. Then test the water with your kit. For example, if it is 1ppm, and you want 4ppm, then drop another triple dose. Something like that. Start small. No need to stress yourself to get such precise...

I used it for fishless cycle too. You need to dose it way before adding ammonia. Yes, it needs low dosage of ammonia at first. The bacteria hasn't colonized any surface yet the moment you dump the whole bottle into the tank. Although I admit each time the outcome is a bit...

Sand, or any other fine substrate. I use eco-complete, my cory can just dig around as they wish.

Most likely you have a pond snail. They often come with plants and other tank media. Yes, pond snails can get out of control before you know it. Take it out...although it might not even work. I had hundreds of them from "just 1", ended up I had to buy assassin snails to take care...

You don't really need to cycle your tank again when you just switch your substrate. It might or might not get into a mini cycle. Most of the beneficial bacteria is in your filter media. Sure, the substrate is the next thing holds most bacteria, but it is insignificant compare to the filter...

I have used Tetra SafeStart on multiple occasions with good results. Although it can't guarantee you instant cycle, it will speed it up for sure.

I would say red cherry shrimps are the best idea for a small tank like that. You can just buy around 10 of them off aqubid along with some java moss. They will breed into 100+ within 3~4 months.

I wouldn't worry at all with 4ppm ammonia. I've always aimed at 5~6ppm ammonia during my fishless cycling. Once I accidentally dosed a little too much, it went off the scale but it was still cycled in the end. Besides, if you can cycle your tank with 5~6ppm daily dose of ammonia, then you...

If you have Ace Hardware nearby, they sell large bottles of pure ammonia with the name of Ace Ammonia Janitorial Strength Formula.