Fish in cycle, ammonia, no nitrites but nitrates?

About 4 weeks into in fish cycle. Dose with prime and stability. Ammonia got up to 2ppm 3 weeks ago.
2 weeks ago nitrite started spiking and ammonia went down to .25-.5.
Started seeing nitrates 4 days ago.
Last night, 0 ammonia, 1.5 nitrites, 5 nitrates.
Tonight, .25 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 2.5 nitrates.
Am I doing something wrong?

 

What are you testing with, strips or chemicals? I’ve found the strips to only be a guide, not exact.

 

API master test kit.

 

numbers are looking good. It is just going to take a bit more time for things to stabilize. Continue doing water changes as needed and adding prime at least every other day if you have an ammonia reading less than one. If one or above do a water change. Don't go over a week between water changes.

 

About 4 weeks into in fish cycle. Dose with prime and stability. Ammonia got up to 2ppm 3 weeks ago.
2 weeks ago nitrite started spiking and ammonia went down to .25-.5.
Started seeing nitrates 4 days ago.
Last night, 0 ammonia, 1.5 nitrites, 5 nitrates.
Tonight, .25 ammonia, 0 nitrites, 2.5 nitrates.
Am I doing something wrong?

Hello Rol...

Testing the tank water during a fish in cycle really isn't needed. You just need to change a third of the tank water twice weekly for two to three weeks and feed the fish a little every day or even two. This routine will keep the water chemistry in the safe zone for the fish and continue to grow the bacteria colony. After this time, you can add a few small fish and increase the water change to at least half the water weekly for the life of the tank. This is much simpler than water testing, which can be inaccurate.

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