Getting the cycle to start...

Hi,

I apologize if this is in an FAQ somewhere. I haven't been able to
find one for this group so if it is, just point me in that direction.

In any case, the situation is this. I have a new, 10 Gal tank with
three red fantails for over a month and a half now. I've lost and
replaced two so far, the first possibly because of new tank syndrome
(not sure because it was the only one who died that way and had been
fine the night before) and the second to an injury due to a (now
removed) bit of tank decoration. I would rather not lose any more, as
I have two small boys (who do /not/ feed, btw) who would be unhappy to
lose them. The fish that are currently in the tank do not appear
stressed, or unhappy. If anything they're very active.

Never minding all that, my problem is that the cycle that all the
books seem to be saying should happen doesn't appear to be occuring.
I've taken various advice from letting it spike to stress-zyme to
ammo-lock and there never seems to be any sign of the nitrites I'm
told should come after the ammonia.

I'm trying to work out whether this is due to something I'm doing,
failing to do or if there's a problem in my water that is causing this
to happen. I feed only once a day and have been changing at
approximately 2 gal at two day intervals owing to the 1.5+ ammonia
levels.

I should also note that I tend to be a bit... enthusiastic in my
efforts with things, so it's entirely possible that I'm overreacting.
However, it does seem strange to me that I've never seen hide nor hair
of a nitrite in the tank.

Thanks!

Deborah Brown