fishless cycle question - nitrite/nitrate

[mat]

I'm doing a fishless cycle on a 10 gal., I'm at at a point where I can add ammonia (about 4-6 drops) and it reads about 0.0 within 12 hrs, but the nitrite is still spiked around 5.0+ ppm. The nitrates are reading about 10 and haven't changed in 24 hrs. I'm wondering why the nitrates aren't rising, and am anxious to see the nitrites drop. How can I help that part of the cycle along?

thanks
mat

 

[OrionGirl]

Be patient. If you have access to cycled media from a healthy tank, adding it will help, but the bacteria that consume nitrites are a bit on the slow side...Most people see nitrites stay spiked for a while, then disappear over night.

 

[RTR]

What is the tank pH?

 

[jujubee]

hang in there. it takes a while. I just finished my fishless cycle on my 46 gallon. Once ammonia would go to 0 like yours are it took a while for nitrites to hit 0.

 

[aquariumfishguy]

Just to add, I am proud to see someone fishless cycling an aquarium. The key here is that you dont have fish in the aquarium suffering while this goes on. You have all the time in the world, and as others have said you just have to wait it out. The "hard" part is over, however.