Cycling Problem

[BumbleT]

Hey guys, so i've been working on cycling my 10 gal (live planted) with the fish-less fish food method for the last three weeks and things were looking good, i saw a rise and fall in anemone, nitrate, and nitrite.
Nitrates were sitting at a steady 8ppm and nitrite was .5 and dropping with each day, which made be believe that i was getting close to the end of cycling. however, when i woke up the other day and tested my tank i found that Nitrate levels had jumped to about 30ppm and my nitrite levels were about 5.0 ppm! (my alkalinity has also dropped from 120ppm to low 80's) this is how they have been the last few days without changing.
I have no idea what happened in just a few short hours but it is extremely frustrating.
Is there anything that can be done to get it back on track? or do i just need to start all over?

[teeneythebetta]

What is your ammonia level?
Also, what are you going to keep in this tank once it finishes cycling?

[ANHEL123]

you can ask questions www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=107771

[Olympia]

I'm curious about the carbonate crash.. has your pH dropped as well, and to what level?

[BumbleT]

@teeneythebetta
I am cycling it for my single male betta Apple and possibly a few ghost shrimp.
Ammonia levels are at 1.0 right now
@Olympia
Ph has actually not moved much, its been at 7.8ppm and just kinda slipped to 7.0ppm today

[Olympia]

That's a pretty big drop, actually.
Let's try a 25% water change and see what that does to the pH.

[BumbleT]

@Olympia
Alright, will do

[BumbleT]

19 hours after water change,
Nitrate: 20ppm (went down)
Nitrite: 3.0ppm (went down)
Hardness: 75ppm (went up)
Alkalinity: 40ppm (went down)
pH: 7.0 (no change)

[Olympia]

What on earth is going on? Same tap source? Maybe call your water company about this? I'm at a loss as to why this is happening.

[BumbleT]

@Olympia exact same tap. so shoot. should i just call the whole thing a lost cause?