My readings after 6 weeks and still no fish

[blankenship]

I've been doing a fishless cycle for 6 weeks now. A couple days ago I added some plants and CO2. Here are my current readings:

Ammonia = 1.5-3 mg/l
Nitrite = 1.6 mg/l*
Nitrate = 12.5 mg/l
KH = 3.5
PH = 7.0
CO2 = 10.5 ppm

*One thing to note about the nitrites. The test kit says wait 2-5 min and then take a reading. 1.6 mg/l is what I get after 5 min, but if I continue to let it sit for 10 min it goes down to .8 mg/l and if I let it sit for 15 min it goes down to .3 mg/l. So I dont know if I should go with the 5 min reading or the 15 min reading.

How do my readings look? Am I almost finished cycling?

 

[victimizati0n]

when your ammo stays at 0 you will be almost done with your cycle.

You probablyu have nitrates from your tap water.

Also, you should get the readings from 5 minutes... which is what the directions tell you to do.

 

[blankenship]

ammonia does go to zero, I just keeping adding more to bring back up to 3ppm so the bacteria still has something to feed off of since I don't have any fish.

 

[victimizati0n]

Oh ok, i thought your ammo was staying at 3ppm

Just wait for your nitrites to get done, and your set. Nitrites take FAR longer than ammonia does.

When you are cycled, watch out for NTS (new tank syndrom) which your water will get really cloudy. When you go to stock your tanik, get New Improved Cycle... it will greatly decrease the change of fish death.

 

[Indigo]

When you go to stock your tanik, get New Improved Cycle... it will greatly decrease the change of fish death.

Why? From all that I've heard about Cycle, its bottled snake oil and really doesn't do much of anything for a tank. Can you explain how it helps? Thanks

 

[victimizati0n]

Why? From all that I've heard about Cycle, its bottled snake oil and really doesn't do much of anything for a tank. Can you explain how it helps? Thanks

Well, Cycle doesnt work.

New Improved Cycle does.

It helps add beneficial bacteria to your tank, to clear up cloudyness, also, it helps put bacteria in new filterpads.