u/ClientCivil8277 — reddlx

I am 3 weeks into an in fish cycle. First timer and next time I start an aquarium I will definitely do a fish less cycle. I was seeing no change in my levels after 2.5 weeks after using API quick start. I read that api is not a great BB so I purchased dr. Tim’s and did whole bottle followed by seachum stability and seachum prime at each water change. I’m doing daily changes at this point. My nitrites keep climbing and I think I’m starting to see nitrates. I think the numbers above are ammonia .25, nitrite between .5 and 1.0, nitrate almost 5?

Here are my questions:

continue to add seachum stability BB at each water change or stop it?
seachum prime each day?
is the prime protecting my fish from the increasing nitrites??

Other info: fish seem great. 2 platies. Happy. Exploring. Foraging in substrate and on decor. Hungry and pissed they’re only getting food every other day. I just worry I’m burning their gills with this rising nitrite.

10 gallon

PH holding steady between 7 and 7.4 (crushed coral in filter helped because it was bottoming out the first week)

Temp is 77

I am curious how long it will take for my beneficial bacteria to build and the tank to be fully cycled. I added fish to an uncycled tank and THEN learned about the nitrogen cycle. It has been with fish now for 2.5 weeks. In that time, I have been diligently testing the water parameters and doing a 20% change every other day. My ammonia stays at trace amounts. Same with nitrite. They never go past the .25ppm. No nitrate action yet.

Any ideas on how long it’ll take? I want to add another fish but want it fully cycled first.

Other info:

10 gallon tank

Sand substrate

Silk plants and drift wood

2 happy active platies in there.

Feeding a teeny pinch daily. So teeny.

API quick start and seachum prime at every water change.

Crushed coral in filter as my tap has NO kh or gh.

Zippo.

Thanks for input!