I'm in about the third week of a fishless cycle using ammonia. For the last two days my readings were 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 5 ppm nitrAtes. I kept dosing ammonia to 1-2 after taking a.m. tests. I was feeling pretty excited that I might get to order fish soon. Now I see why it's suggested that you keep testing for a few days even after it appears to be cycled.
This morning my tests show 0 ammonia, 0.25-0.50 nitrites, and nitrAtes at 5 ppm. pH has stayed the same through all this at about 7.6 or a bit less.
I'm confused, what could have brought nitrites back into the picture? The only thing that is different is I have accumulated some mystery snails with my plants (sigh) and so yesterday morning I put a small piece of lettuce in a cup in the tank to bait some of the little buggers. Could a small
piece of lettuce affect nitrite readings?
Feedback, please! Do I keep dosing with ammonia as I have been? Anything else I should do? thanks in advance...