TANK WONT CYCLE

Question
2 MONTHS AGO WAS THE TANK SETUP, 10 GALLONS,
WITH 2 TETRA FISH,
I KEEP THE TEMP. 76-80,
GOT A CHARCOL FILTER,
I KEEP THE PH AT 7.0 BY KEEPING THE KH AT 75-100 (IM ADDING CARBONATE MINERALS) I CHANGE 25%-50% WATER ABOUT EVERY 2 WEEKS,

IS IT NORMAL THAT THE AMONIA IS AROUND 1-2 PPM SINCE ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I STARTED THE TANK, AND THE NITRITE STILL AT 0 PPM IS THERE ANY ACTION I SHOULD TAKE THAT THE NITROGEN CYCLE SHOULD MOVE  FASTER ???

Answer
Hi Yoel;

You may be getting a false-positive on your ammonia kit. Look on the label of your kit. If it says it uses a "nessler reagent" it is well known for causing false-positive results. Get one that uses salycilates (or another method besides nessler) and see what it reads.

I think it probably did already get through the break-in period (cycle) and the nitrite spike was so quick you didn't see it. It happens sometimes. To check that out, test the nitrAte level. It is the end result of the biological process known as 'cycling'. If there is any detectable nitrAte, it means that nitrIte is being processed and you just couldn't see it.  

There really is no need to adjust your pH. You want a "stable" pH, not a certain reading. Additives can cause pH fluctuations that are very harmful. Tetras actually prefer a lower a pH anyway. If there really is ammonia present, a pH below 7.0 causes the ammonia to be less toxic to your fish too. Ammonia takes a different form in acidic pH conditions. Raising the pH can actually be deadly to your fish with ammonia in there.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins