Why is my fish less cycling not going as expected?

Question

I started carrying out a fish less cycle in my aquarium 19 days ago. I added a quantity of ammonia [pure ammonia found in a hardware store] and then monitored the levels using a Nutrafin test kit. After a week the ammonia levels dropped to 0 so I began adding ammonia to keep feeding the bacteria. I also added Stress Zyme to the aquarium to supposedly encourage the bacteria to develop.

4 days ago my ammonia levels have not been returning to 0. There is still a lot of nitrite in the tank and this hasn't start to fall yet. The only explanation I can come up with is my plants. I added some plants, which on hindsight wasn't a good idea as they started to go brown and die. I've tried to remove as much of the plant bits as possible but could the remaining bits be giving off ammonia?

Not sure what to do now? Will my ammonia levels ever drop back again?

Any help greatly appreciated, this is my first fish tank and I'm finding it quite complex.

Answer 1

In my opinion you were trying to start your tank out tooooo fast.

If you want to start a tank out fast try Start Right.

Anytime I have set up an aquarium I have used this and added fish the very same day.

Though it may be the type of fish I added but it worked for me.

Answer 2

is your tank in direct sunlight if so move away from the sunlight as this is due to ammonia levels going sky high  

Answer 3

Yes, the decaying plants could be adding ammonia to the system.

Growing plants will actaully take up ammonia, but dieing plants release it.

As you are seeing Nitrite that means the cycle has started.

Remove all the dieing plants, it's likely you dont have enough lighting for them if they are dieing after 2 weeks. The cycling process should not kill them, in fact the ammonia should act as fertiliser. It may be that the plants you were sold were not true aquarium pants at all. Pick some plants that have lower light requirements.

Other than that, keep doing what you are doing, it's beginning to work. The nitrite should start to fall in another week or so and then you are almost there.

Ian

Answer 4

Since you don't have fish in the tank you should just wait for the water to cloud up.  This is a sign that the bacteria are multiplying.  It should get milky white.  Do not do a water change or you will remove much of the nitrifying bacteria that you are trying to grow.  Eventually, they will settle on the gravel and in your filter and the water will clear up.  After that, your Ammonia and Nitrite levels should soon drop to zero and you can safely add fish.  The bits of dead plants should not hurt anything so let them naturally dissolve.  If you are using a filter with filter pads, do not replace the pad for at least 6 months.  You can rinse it when it gets really dirty but do not replace it too soon.