84l tank cycling question

[DanC]

Hello

I have been cycling the tank fishless with flakes, using api stress zyme, api stress coat and pure aquarium balls.

I have a nitrates reading of 40, nitrites at 0 and ammonia at 0.5.

My question is, how long before the ammonia drops, the tank had been at this level for a week or so now, I'm doing 20% water changes every 2-3 days and within a few hours it's stabilised back at this level. I've started only feeding the flakes every other day but the levels aren't changing, what am I doing wrong?

 

[DanC]

Also, would it be safe to add the axolotl with those readings and just monitor the levels?

 

[Hayleyy]

You could let the tank go without water changes and see if that speeds it up. Warm the tank to 23 degrees or so, if you haven't already.
I wouldn't put the axolotl in until it has finished with the cycle, you can tub separately with daily water changes if you need to.