First time with a tank

Hey all, have started my first tank approx 2 weeks ago now, got my API test kit in the mail a few days ago and I am confused about the readings I'm getting.
I'm doing a fish less cycle and using fish food (clear ammonia is not easily available in australia) on a 4ft tank.

as far as I can tell the readings are showing 0 ppm ammonia 0 ppm nitrite and 5ppm nitrate.
getting the same results 2 days in a row now.

am I correct in thinking that the nitrate would continue to rise if it was completely cycled and I kept adding fish food?
how long after adding fish food should I be taking the readings?

how much fish food should I be adding (as I have no idea how much I would be feeding the fish if I had them)

 

Well, fish food amounts are rather hard to quantify when it comes to cycling with it, so I'll just say add more, as having no fish at present means you aren't risking anything, just to see if your ammonia and nitrite levels do move, and return to zero, and if you can increase your nitrates a bit.
As fish food can be quite messy, I would use granules and keep them in a tightly woven media bag, btw.
Your tank is cycled once you notice nitrates going up slowly, and 0 levels of ammonia and nitrite.
Keep in mind that it is important to add your fish rather slowly, so as to not get ahead of your cycle (a cycle is not a magical number for all tanks, but rather varies directly with biolaod.
Just before adding fish, a water change and gravel clean would be a very good idea.
All the best, and enjoy, rick

 

I have read you can cycle with prawns? which is a better option? prawns or fish food?

also, as I have no prawns in the freezer, would I be able to use mussels, as we have a whole heap that we no longer need.

 

Yes, basically you can cycle with anything that contains protein and will decompose down to ammonia, so a heap ( either an Imperial or metric heap ) of mussels will work fine. I would still suggest keeping it in a media bag, though, as it can get rather messy, so the tighter the weave, the better.
All in all, I would buy some prawns and eat them before and after working on the tank--Best to you, rick

Btw, cycling with fish food, seafood, etc., basically anything that uses bacteria in part for its decomposition, can lead to a bacterial bloom, which appears as a whitish tint to your water--it is unsightly, but safe and self limiting, so nothing to sweat over

 

is a bacterial bloom guaranteed? or only a possibility?
yeah, ill find some of the wife's stockings and use them the fish food has already made a large mess.. but nothing a gravel vac won't fix when its time