I'm trying to cycle a 36 gallon tank using the fish less method. I have the API master test kit and a diluted pure ammonia solution. My question is will Nitrates dissipate or should they show up during a test? I did a test and it was showing 0.25 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 0 nitrates. I added 2 tea spoons of ammonia and the next day the tests showed 0.5 ammonia, 0.5 nitrite and 5 nitrate. The following day i did the tests again and got 0-0.25 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 0 nitrates. This is really throwing me off because all the posts i have read say the end product should me nitrates in the water samples, but mine also drop to 0 after a day or two. There is only i live plant in the aquarium, which i dead now anyway. Please help as i do not want to kill my 4 tetras that are being transfered from a 10 gallon tank.
FYI...i used Nutrafin cycle to start the cycle
FYI...i used Nutrafin cycle to start the cycle