Cycling problem with Nitrites

[mromines]

I've been trying to cycle a 29 g freshwater aquarium for 2 months using ammonia. I didn't transfer media because of past illness and thought I'd take time and try to start as clean as possible.


No substrate, a few media sacks on bottom, sponge filter, and last week added aquaclear 50.

I've used Seachem goldfish buffer due to low kh, wondershell, and Seachem stability.

It took 4.5 weeks for ammonia to drop and Nitrites sky rocketed off of api chart. I added a small amount of ammonia to keep bb fed. Nitrites have not come down in 1.5 weeks.

Now, I'm in a jam. I was working on a new tank because my other tank was off level. Now it's leaking- slowly but water is coming out enough to make small puddles over night.

Questions:

Is the Nitrite spike supposed to last this long?

Should I do WC, if so how much?

Any other recommendations on how to deal with having a leaking tank and the new one not cycled and at dangerous levels?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[devonjohnsgard]

Tanks can take this long to cycle, though with a high quality sponge filter it can be quicker. The new HOB is helping any yet.

How much stability did you use?

Not having substrate also can play a role into is, as it's more surface for bacteria to grow.

Doesnt sound too far off I think, usually take 2 to 3 months to start being stable and can be rocky for a while longer.

No water change. You'll have to transfer the water, filters over to a new tank to reseal the current one.

[mromines]

I'm not seeing any difference with nitrite levels. Ammonia still drops and I put some in to feed BB.

The sponge is a Lustar hydrosponge V.

I'll add a little large substrate. I had hoped the sponge filter and biomedia bags (2) would have done the job, but I guess it wasn't enough.

[Carl]

While your numbers are not uncommon, I would not call it quite normal either, especially the nitrite numbers.

I will state that I am not a big fan of the pure ammonia method, for one it seems to be irregular for reasons I have not determined even when followed well.
I understand not using the seasoned media method due to illness issue, but my second choice would have been the liquified fish foo method.
Either way I am not suggesting switching methods, however maybe adding small amounts of liqified fish food instead of ammonia might be worth trying.

I should note that using cycling aids with the ammonia method often defeats it, so another reason to switch to just fish food and Stability

www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Nitrogen_Cycle.html