Can someone please help!?

[Asteria]

So i started my tank cycle on the 23th June.

On day 4 my results were
Ammonia - 0.25 ppm
Nitrite - 1ppm

Day 7 (29th June)
Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm

So i gave it a full dose.
But now I'm unsure. Do i treat this as dose one or two?
As my reading is

Ammonia - 0.50ppm
Nitrite - 2-5ppm (higher than two not quite 5 though)
Nitrate - 80ppm

My tapwater reads
Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrate - 40ppm
High pH - 8.1

What must i do!
I dont want to add more Ammonia incase I'll mess it up. So heres where you guys come in handy.

I haven't used any mature filter media. However when my tank was stripped down and emptied i never cleaned the filter out. All the sponges ect and water was left in it. I did empty the water when I decided to take it back on about 2 months later. Would my bacteria have survived? If so then the majority of the filter media is 2+ years old and one sponge is 7+years. Perhaps this has sped things along?

 

[Ch4rlie]

I would wait 24 - 48 hours, do not change the water or anything.

Then test after 24 or 48 hours, then see what the readings are.

 

[Asteria]

I would wait 24 - 48 hours, do not change the water or anything.

Then test after 24 or 48 hours, then see what the readings are.

Thank you.
I'll test it tomorrow and post it here to see what someone thinks. Whether I should do something or not

 

[Asteria]

So I've tested the water today. A little early as its my birthday today so wont be about at the tight time.

But i got readings of

Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrite - 1ppm

 

[Ch4rlie]

Did you happen to get a reading for nitrate?

Nitrate readings, will help determine if nitrite is actually being consumed.

But otherwise looks like its on track, just a case of waiting for nitrite to reduce for now.

 

[Asteria]

Did you happen to get a reading for nitrate?

Nitrate readings, will help determine if nitrite is actually being consumed.

But otherwise looks like its on track, just a case of waiting for nitrite to reduce for now.

I always forget to test for it.
However today i got readings of
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm

I gave it a full dose of Ammonia again. And will test it tomorrow and see where im at. And remember to test for Nitrate too

Just tested for nitrates (possible a bit early but thought they should still be present)
Got 80ppm

 

[Ch4rlie]

That actually looks pretty good.

If there is zero ammonia and zero nitrite showing in 24 hours after that full ammonia dose, reckon you're cycled

 

[Asteria]

So i seem to be back at square one

Ammonia - 0 - 0.25ppm
Nitrite - about 5ppm
Nitrate - 80+ppm but under 160ppm

It seems that my Nitrite colony need to develop more as ammonia is nearly dissappearing overnight.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Ammonia bacteria do tend to colonise fairly quickly.

Nitrite bacteria is always slow, this is the one we all have to be patient with.

But still think you're on track as your nitrate level is climbing, usually a sign that nitrite bacteria is consuming nitrite.

Patience

 

[Asteria]

Haha thank you!

The Nitrite is just bugging me now XD
But i will stay patient and wait this a through

Im off for two weeka now so its going to annoy me a little as i cant do anything yet xD