Cycling questions

[Quim]

Let me start by saying that my 20 gallon was established until I moved and let the filters dry and the bacteria die. I messed up by putting platys in right away and lost them. After that I decided that I needed to cycle it again. I put a raw shrimp in for 2 days but couldn't stand the smell. I went and got ammonia to cycle that way. I tested the water before I took the shrimp out. I had .25 ammonia. 0 nitrite and nitrate. The next day I started putting in ammonia. I dosed to 2 ppm ammonia and 24 hours later my numbers were .25 ammonia 0 nitrite and 20 nitrate. I was wondering how the nitrate is at 20 without seeing a nitrite spike? I'm using the API liquid test. I dosed ammonia to 4 ppm tonight and will check tomorrow to see where I'm at. I've read many articles on cycling and I don't understand how I have nitrate without seeing a nitrite spike. Any advice is welcome. Thanks.

 

[Deepblue02]

Do you have sand in the tanks as sand, especially the fine stuff, can develop air pockets where bacteria live. when the pockets burst, they release a gas which may be increasing nitrite levels.

 

[jlk]

You mention moving. Have you tested your tap water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph? What do they read? I suspect one or all may be present in your tap and this would account for the nitrate reading. Did you reuse your old substrate?

 

[Quim]

I changed substrate from gravel to sand to make a better habitat for Cory's. I tested the water before I moved and the only difference is that it is harder. Other than that everything was the same as my old water.