cycling issue

[kim987]

Okay, so I started a new 20gal freshwater tank, doing a fishless cycle (started this on 7/31/11). Got some dirty gravel from my sisters established tank and everything. Tested my water yesturday morning and bam! Results were:
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 160ppm

So my sister goes, yay, now do a 90% water change to lower your Nitrate to 20-40ppm, and then you should be ready for fish.
So I do the water change and I dose it with prime and retest my water. My ammonia went to 1ppm! So I realized I must have Ammonia in my tap water, so I tested that it, yes indeed I do. So I do a double dose of prime. This morning I test it, and I got:
Ammonia .25ppm
Nitrite 1ppm
Nitrate 30ppm

Why did the Nitrite come back? Im going crazy

 

[librarygirl]

Hi! How many days have you gotten the 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite? Just the one? Also did nitrites rise and then fall to 0, and then return?

I'd keep dosing and checking every day for the next few days and see what happens. You could be VERY close, just not 100% there yet. Good thing you didn't add fish!

 

[kim987]

I got 0 ammonia and 0 Nitrite starting yesturday so just one day, and yes the nitrite went up throughout the cycling and then all the sudden, 0ppm. so how do I do water changes if I have so much ammonia in my tap water? Just get a bucket and add new water to it and dose it with prime a day in advance to make it oppm, this way when i do have fish, I dont kill them?

 

[librarygirl]

I got 0 ammonia and 0 Nitrite starting yesturday so just one day, and yes the nitrite went up throughout the cycling and then all the sudden, 0ppm. so how do I do water changes if I have so much ammonia in my tap water? Just get a bucket and add new water to it and dose it with prime a day in advance to make it oppm, this way when i do have fish, I dont kill them?

I know others here have ammonia in their water too. Once your bacteria establishes it will convert the ammonia in your tap water very quickly. The Prime will also help detoxify it until your bacteria consume it, so I don't think you'll need to leave the water out.

 

[kim987]

Oh and I also went and bought some ammonia safe tablets..the ones that supposedly fizzel and remove ammonia, think I should try those out? they were super cheap.. since I'm obviously going to have ammonia issues, since its in my freaking tap water..so frustrating!

 

[kim987]

Thank you so much!

 

[librarygirl]

I don't think you'll need those. I'd be wary of putting chemicals in there. Here are some posts from others on this site with the same problem and the help they received.

 

[kim987]

Chemicals

Okay I wont use them. My sister told me the same thing "the less chemicals the better!" so Ill not use them. Good thing they were cheap! only $2.91 at petsmart..