High nitrite while fishless cycling

So I am a newbie trying to fishless cycle a 10 gallon tank with eco complete substrate, dr tims ammonia, seachem prime & stability.

My ammonia level didn't reach 0ppm til Day 6 but my nitrite was reading 10, nitrAte 40 so I did a 25% water change and added 2ppm ammonia not knowing if I was supposed to or not.

24 hours later, Day 7 I had the same issue, 0 ammonia, 10 nitrite, 160 nitrAte, 25 water change but added 1ppm ammonia

Day 8, 0 ammonia, still 10ppm nitrite, 160 nitrAte, 80% water change brung nitrite to 5ppm, I believe that's still too high but now my nitrAte is at 20ppm and I'm not sure what to do next.

Do I not add ammonia til some of the nitrite convert? More water changes? All my research and I am still stuck /: any help is highly appreciated!

 

I'd hold off on the ammonia, your making good progress though. I'd say your close to being fully cycled once the nitrite spikes go away.

 

I'd hold off on the ammonia, your making good progress though. I'd say your close to being fully cycled once the nitrite spikes go away.

The waiting game it is, thank you for your reply!

 

It is a waiting game. My fishless cycle took about 40 days. Now I could seed something new in a matter of minutes; dangerous!
You’re dealing with 2 different colonies of bacteria. The first one converts ammonia to nitrIte. It looks like you have a colony of them because you’re ammonia is disappearing. That’s good. It doesn’t look like your second colony has developed fully yet.
I would continue dosing ammonia so as Not not starve your first colony. 24-48 hours without food and the colony will crash. You can do small water changes, but there’s no need to do huge ones since you have no fish. The nitrIte eating bacteria will develop and need food. Test your tap water to see what the nitrAte levels are in there. Then compare that to your aquarium to see if it’s higher. If it’s higher in your aquarium then you at least have some.
Then, go do something else while you’re waiting. It’s like watching a pot boil.
It tends to happen when you walk away.
Wait til it’s all the way done 0-0-as low as possible before adding fish.

Oh, and try bumping the temperature up to like 80 and put in an air stone.

 

I would do another big water change in a few days, if nitrite too high your nitrifying bacteria will not be able to keep up and may harm

 

Cycling a tank is a balancing act. You did the right thing by doing water changes to get the nitrites and nitrates down. Continue adding ammonia at least every other day. Should the nI and na spike that high again lower them with water changes. Check your PH too. You want it up to at least 7 and the temp in the high 70's/low 80's

 

It is a waiting game. My fishless cycle took about 40 days. Now I could seed something new in a matter of minutes; dangerous!
You’re dealing with 2 different colonies of bacteria. The first one converts ammonia to nitrIte. It looks like you have a colony of them because you’re ammonia is disappearing. That’s good. It doesn’t look like your second colony has developed fully yet.
I would continue dosing ammonia so as Not not starve your first colony. 24-48 hours without food and the colony will crash. You can do small water changes, but there’s no need to do huge ones since you have no fish. The nitrIte eating bacteria will develop and need food. Test your tap water to see what the nitrAte levels are in there. Then compare that to your aquarium to see if it’s higher. If it’s higher in your aquarium then you at least have some.
Then, go do something else while you’re waiting. It’s like watching a pot boil.
It tends to happen when you walk away.
Wait til it’s all the way done 0-0-as low as possible before adding fish.

Oh, and try bumping the temperature up to like 80 and put in an air stone.

Yeah I did add some ammonia last night as I was scared of starving the nitrite even though I'm trying to get rid of the suckers. I did also test the tap water Na was at 40, tank was at 20 after huge water change. Thank you for your advice:]

Cycling a tank is a balancing act. You did the right thing by doing water changes to get the nitrites and nitrates down. Continue adding ammonia at least every other day. Should the nI and na spike that high again lower them with water changes. Check your PH too. You want it up to at least 7 and the temp in the high 70's/low 80's

My PH is usually 7.5 and temp is in high 70's. I had heard to not let the nitrite get above 5 and was unsure how much water to change at first. Was very frustrating. Thank you so much!

 

My PH is usually 7.5 and temp is in high 70's. I had heard to not let the nitrite get above 5 and was unsure how much water to change at first. Was very frustrating. Thank you so much!

You are very welcome. I understand the frustrating part. It looks like you handled it very well though. Now it is just a matter of time, adding ammonia at least every other day and water changes as necessary.