Tank Not Cycling

[Puddles92]

I have a 25l tank which has had 2 zebra danios in it for a fortnight. I have been taking readings regularly and changing the water if it reaches 0.25ppm ammonia.The tanks is currently 25 degrees c with 0.25ppm ammonia and no nitrite.Why haven't I got any nitrite readings yet if it has been running for 2 weeks? I have put in stress Zune according to the instructions.I have also left the filter alone as well as the gravel only changing the water so that the bacteria can grow but why isn't there any sign of them yet?

 

[elmo666]

Fishless cycling tends to be more controlled than fish-in. What you're experiencing isn't unusal, you can suddenly go from this to no ammonia and high nitrites, so careful monitoring is important.

 

[snazy]

What's the brand of the dechlorinator you are using and how much do you put?
Have you tested the nitrAtes yet in the tank? What are the nitrAtes from the tap. In rare cases you can have a silent nitrIte stage where both ammonia and nitrIte bacteria grow at the same time so nitrItes may not get detected or very little.
In other cases, it takes a lot longer to reach the nitrite stage. Test your Ph as in lower Ph it takes longer for the ammonia eating bacteria to get established and is normal in this case.

 

[Puddles92]

Im using stress coat dechlorinator or letting the water sit out for 48 hours for the chlorine to evaporate.. Should I try another band? I have tested for nitrates and they are 0 as well.My pH is about 6.5 which may be why it's taking longer.

 

[snazy]

Im using stress coat dechlorinator or letting the water sit out for 48 hours for the chlorine to evaporate.. Should I try another band? I have tested for nitrates and they are 0 as well.My pH is about 6.5 which may be why it's taking longer.

With a Ph of 6.5 it would take longer and it's normal. Is the water treated with chlorine only for sure? If yes, use a simple dechlorinator like Api tap safe as the Stress coat has the ability to convert ammonia to non-toxic substance and this can slow down your cycle. As long as you are on top of water changes you should be fine. Plus you don't need to add all those "fancy" all in one dechlorinators if you only have chlorine in the water. But I would still use a simple dechlorinator to detoxify the heavy metals too which don't evaporate like the chlorine and are abundant in soft water normally. I use the API tap safe myself.