I know there are a lot of threads regarding fishless cycling and I have read a lot of them, but I cannot help but think that I am doing something wrong. For the past two weeks I have been putting 25 drops of ammonia into a 50 gallon tank and measuring the levels. They have increased slowly over time and are now measuring between the 4.0ppm and 8.0ppm on the API liquid test. I recently started testing nitrite levels and it continues to read 0. Is that right? Should it take this long? I know it probably does, but now do I keep putting in 25 drops a day or should I cut that in half? Also, once I do get a nitrite reading (if I do) should I continue dropping in about 12 drops and day. If so for how long? This is my first fish tank. My aunt thought it would be a good idea to give my son 3 goldfish in a barrel with a live plant. She expected us to leave it out during the winter and take our chances. Hence why we got the tank. We have 2 dogs and feed 6 feral cats and I cannot have fish living outside in the cold and possibly dying. One of the goldfish already died and I would love to have this tank cycled before something happens to the other 2. HELP!
