confusing cycle

[mark shirah]

i am doing a fishless cycle. nitrite showed up in about 10 days. kept up ammonia level at 2-3 all the time. nitrite spiked at day 30. one week later later nitrite went to 0 but i still have ammonia between 1-2. nitrate level is at 20. i have not added ammonia in 5 days. why do i still have ammonia after nitrite went to 0?

 

[Zagz]

do a small pwc and then retest your water levels. Do not gravel vac.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

Just as Zag said, do a water change and re-test. If the ammonia level drops back down to 0 within 12 hours, add fish immediately.

 

[rich311k]

Do a massive water change before adding the fish. After of course your ammonia goes to zero.

 

[Guest]

make sure you add the fish as soon as that ammonia reaches zero becuase you don't want your bacteria to die off..