WEIRD test results & 1 question

[Just5398]

Let me start off by saying I know you all seem to prefer the liquid tests but I also have the strips. This just may back up as to why test strips are not the best choice.
I have been doing a fishless cycle on a 20 gallon for around 4 weeks, we are so close to the end. The ammonia has been testing 0 for about a week now and nirtites have spiked to 5 and have been consistantly dropping, we are holding steady at just over 0 all with the liquid test for 3 days. API test kit for nitrites says light blue for 0 and lavender color for .25 and we get a light, pale greenish color. We also tested for nitrAtes with the API liquid test and it was 10 this morning. I have been consistantly using the liquid tests for this fishless cycle.
I decided to use the test strip this morning to see what that comes up with. Are you ready...the nitrates are WELL over 200... way off the chart; nitrItes are well over 10... way off the chart.

With the liquid test and the greenish color I am getting for the NitrItes I am soooo close to the end so heres my question...can I do a major water change and add fish now or should I wait for that nitrite to get to the blue it needs to be?

[ct-death]

If your ammonia is at Zero, and you are not done the cycle, you may be starving your nitrIte bacterias (unless you're adding ammonia back).

Technically if your ammonia/nitrItes are below 0.25 you can add fish, but why if you are "...soooo close to the end..."?

I know waiting sucks ;)

[Just5398]

I've been adding ammonia every day and yesterday I got a little carried away and put in too much so it went up to 8 ppm ammonia. I thought I would have killed everything off but this morning it was 0 again.

waiting does suck!!!!

[ct-death]

Sounds like you are only few days away! :)