Nitrite-weird Test Result

[Dong]

I have been fishless cycling my tank for the last 2 weeks by using Ace Hardware's Janitor Strength cleanser. The ammonia level is now changing from 5ppm to 0ppm in less than 12 hours whenever I added the ammonia. My nitrite reads approximately 2-5ppm (can't really tell, but closer to 2) right after I mix the test solution with the water from the tank. Then after 5 minutes, the solution decreases to indicate approximately 0.5ppm of nitrite. After I leave it for another 10 minutes, the solution changes to a light green color which doesn't match any of the colors in the chart. It says on the test kit instruction that I should wait 5 minutes. So what's my real nitrite level? and is there anything wrong with my water? The temperature is currently at 89 degree and I am using Aquarium Pharmaceuticals's nitrite test kit.

 

[sinistral]

If the instructions say to wait 5 minutes, I'd reckon that the result after 5 minutes is the most accurate.

 

[diburning]

If the instructions say to wait 5 minutes, I'd reckon that the result after 5 minutes is the most accurate.

hey! fellow bostonian!!

lol. I have jungle quick dips. They are strips that you dip into the water then you wait for like 1 minute then read it.

The color gets darker after a while so I am assuming that the most accurate reading is the amount of time it says.

 

[mark.w.jones]

If the instructions say to wait 5 minutes, I'd reckon that the result after 5 minutes is the most accurate.

hey! fellow bostonian!!

lol. I have jungle quick dips. They are strips that you dip into the water then you wait for like 1 minute then read it.

The color gets darker after a while so I am assuming that the most accurate reading is the amount of time it says.

If youre worried about results id highly recommend the API Aquarium Pharmaseuticals Freshwater Master test kit. Much more accurate. Ive actually done tests with 2 of those test strips at the same time before and got different results for each

 

[zodiac]

If the instructions say to wait 5 minutes, I'd reckon that the result after 5 minutes is the most accurate.

hey! fellow bostonian!!

lol. I have jungle quick dips. They are strips that you dip into the water then you wait for like 1 minute then read it.

The color gets darker after a while so I am assuming that the most accurate reading is the amount of time it says.

If youre worried about results id highly recommend the API Aquarium Pharmaseuticals Freshwater Master test kit. Much more accurate. Ive actually done tests with 2 of those test strips at the same time before and got different results for each

Hey jonesy he says at the top that he is using the api test kit, the thing is so am i and im having the same happen when i drop the reagent in the tube it goes straight to 5ppm as five mins approaches it goes through all the shades on the card down to 0.25ppm then turns green there is no green on the result card does anyone know why? could this happen if you had like 100ppm would it "bleach" the colour out of the test or if that was the case would it just indicate 5ppm as that is the deepest red on the card??

 

[plantropimunity]

i am using an aquarium pharm test kit for my cycling tank, and i am having issues with the nitrate test. it usually turns light yellow after the drops from part one, then as i mix in part two, it gradually turns orange and after i wait the full five minutes it is at the final shade of orange or red. today it is turning deep amber when i add the first stage(a bit darker than the 5.0 color) then lightening after the second stage is mixed in. i am following all the directions and i even did a test on another tank which came out normal. i am sorry that i am not answering your question, dong, but i am using ace's ammonia and API's test kits too, and i thought you might like to know that you are not alone in getting strange results. sorry if it seems that i am trying to hijack your thread, but i posted a similar question in my journal thread, and i am now out for answers. i'll come back and repost if i can find anything out. good luck!!
Edit: i have sent an email to API asking about my question and i have included your situation in that email. i will let you know what they say

 

[Fadi]

maybe it's the bacteria converting the nitrite to nitrate???

 

[plantropimunity]

as far as i know the bacteria are in the filter media, not in the water column.