Hi, I'm new to the forum, currently fishless cycling a 20 gallon for a goldfish or two.
I'm on day 9 (if I am counting right, started it last Thursday I think).
I started out and put in way too much ammonia, so I had to change out a lot of water to bring it down. Another forum told me I should bring it down to 2, and I brought it down to something between 2-4. It looked like those were getting lighter daily, but not too much. I added in some more water last night because mine was getting low, which brought it down a little bit (probably 3-4 gallons, it was a 5 gallon bucket not completely filled). This morning it looked like 1. It also looks like I now have a bit of nitrite. The tube is definitely not the blue nothing color, it looks bluish-purple, but I don't think it looks exactly like any of the colors. Closest to .5 though I would say. However, I have the little seachem stickup ammonia thing on my tank, and that appears to have changed to green from solid blue. Obviously, if the 1 is correct, my ammonia should be off the chart. One of the two is not accurate. How can I tell if my test kit is expired?
Other info- I got a piece of wood and two little plants out of a tank at petco, might have brought in some bacteria, but it sat with no ammonia for 4 or 5 days. I also put in a few java ferns last night, 6 or so, but I don't think 6 newly planted java ferns are eating things up in there. I've got the temp at about 85. Let me know if there is any other info I should provide.