Starting to become discouraged

I have been waiting for my nitrites to rise in my tanks. I have a 26 bow front and a 10 gallon. Both have undergravel filters and power filters with some fish in them. My ammonia has been high and I'm still waiting to nitrites. 10 gallon has been going to just over 2 weeks and 26 for over a month. I got home from work today and I tested the water. I had no nitrites in my 26 gallon and then I got excited because I was showing .25 ppm nitrites in my 10 gallon tank. I went to test the 10 gallon again about an hour later and then no nitrites showed up. I tested it 2 more times and nothing. My nitrates are at 0. I am using liquid test kits not strips. Can someone please tell me what is going on here? Thank you

ammonia was at about 1 ppm. I have been doing water changes to keep it as low as I can. I added ammo lock but have discontinued the use of it for a couple weeks with no deaths. I have done several water changes since the last time I used it and I am adding aqua safe after every water change.