Nitrates and ammonia with no nitrites

I’m about 2 weeks into a fish in cycle and have ammonia and nitrates but have been testing every day and haven’t seen any nitrites. I have been using SeaChem Prime and Stability to protect the fish and introduce the bacteria but am not sure what’s going on. The pH also rose to around 7.8 up from my tap water that was testing around 6.8. I turned off the air pump for a day to see if the pH would come down with less O2/more CO2 but nothing happened. Any advice of what’s going on would be helpful as I can’t seem to find anything about why I am getting these readings.
Water tests with API Master kit is pH 7.8, 2 ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, 20 ppm nitrate and 80 F on the thermometer
Tap water is pH 6.8, 0 ammonia and nitrite and 5 ppm nitrate

 

How often are you doing water changes and how much?

 

After it gets above 1 ppm ammonia which is about every 3 days or so

 

My guess would be that some ammonia (but not all) is being converted into nitrites, by the Stability bacteria and all nitrites are being converted into nitrates by the Stability bacteria.

 

I’m about 2 weeks into a fish in cycle and have ammonia and nitrates but have been testing every day and haven’t seen any nitrites. I have been using SeaChem Prime and Stability to protect the fish and introduce the bacteria but am not sure what’s going on. The pH also rose to around 7.8 up from my tap water that was testing around 6.8. I turned off the air pump for a day to see if the pH would come down with less O2/more CO2 but nothing happened. Any advice of what’s going on would be helpful as I can’t seem to find anything about why I am getting these readings.
Water tests with API Master kit is pH 7.8, 2 ppm ammonia, 0 nitrite, 20 ppm nitrate and 80 F on the thermometer
Tap water is pH 6.8, 0 ammonia and nitrite and 5 ppm nitrate

I’ve done a couple cycles without ever testing positive for nitrites. Sometimes that happens when using bottled bacteria.

As long as ammonia is going down and nitrates are appearing, your cycle is progressing.

 

Yes, I know when I used tetra Safestart you get inaccurate readings due to what is in the bottle to keep the bb alive.

 

I have a decent amount of plants in it too. Would it be ok to fertilize them or should I wait for it to finish cycling?

 

I have a decent amount of plants in it too. Would it be ok to fertilize them or should I wait for it to finish cycling?

I haven't had an experience in that situation - but I think it's reasonable that as long as your plants aren't dying/showing nutrient deficiencies, you don't need to fertilize them. Some fertilizers can cause ammonia/nitrogen spikes so be sure to do your research. Dying plants will release more ammonia and if they rot and die off then you won't have any plants to help the cycle or give you any of the benefits of live plants you want in your planted tank. Plus, I'm sure you don't want to dump a ton of money on plants again so soon.

 

I’ve only lost 1 little foreground plant but what should I be looking for for nutrient deficiencies? At the same time I’d rather lose some plants then mess up my already “unstable” water and lose fish.

 

I’ve only lost 1 little foreground plant but what should I be looking for for nutrient deficiencies? At the same time I’d rather lose some plants then mess up my already “unstable” water and lose fish.

A list of plant nutrient deficiencies on FishLore.