New Aquarium Queation

[Ragnao]

Good Day Everyone,
I was wondering if any of you could help me with a question I have.

I've been cycling my 10 gallon aquarium for 4 weeks now and whenever I test it I get the same results:

7.4 ph
.25 ppm Ammonia
0 ppm Nitrite
0 ppm Nitrate

I'm using an API Fresh Water kit to test the water quality and there has been no difference. I do have live plants in it (Bacopa Carolina, Amazon Swords, and Jungle Val) and a handful of baby snails that snuck in with the plants. So I would imagine there would be changes in the water quality over time. But there's been nothing. Can anyone help me understand what I'm doing wrong?

 

[King Fisher]

If there's no fish, dose your ammonia to 4 ppm.

 

[Thomasflynnwa]

With a higher ammonia source the higher in turn the nitrite/ates will get, speeding up the cycle. Since it’s fishless as of now, it’s safe to go all out on the ammonia dosing. The snails have minimal bioload so they shouldn’t affect anything