Insert small scream here "****"

[SmallFishi]

Ok I had run out of my ammonia drop kit not a big deal, I went to buy some cory's for my tank (started with established filter media and gravel in a mesh carbon bag) Well I took a water sample with me to the local LFS. (Ok I didnt' do this my husband did) and he phones me saying the Ammonia is at dangerous levels... dangerous dangerous... and NO NITRITE.
I said how can this be I only didnt' test for 2 days and it has been fine since about day 12 where it had a tiny spike of inbetween the 0 and 0.25 for 4 days where I changed the water 25% daily for 4 days instead of my usual daily 8%. (started cycle on Nov 12th)
So I was horrified we have 4 Harlequin Rasbora and a dwarf Gourami in a 20 gallon with a penguin 150 bio wheel.
Anyway so he bought home the Jungle Ammonia Clear and this Live Test thing you hang on your aquarium glass and it moniters the ammonia for 6 weeks... all this a bit pricey.
So today I got my new ammonia API test kit and tested both Ammonia and Nitrite.
Ammonia is at 0 (put jungle tabs in 2 days ago) and my nitrite is 0.3 (not below 0.3)
My question is i fear my tank was fine and the LFS used strips (I later came to find out) I think he got a naf test result.
Does anyone know if the Nitrite is a result of the Ammonia Clear tabs ? Or would it not have affected my nitrite and therefore nitrite was there and is not a false reading because of the ammonia tabs.

Confused???

 

[Star_Rider]

sounds like your tank is cycling... correct??

if so it is possibel but not likely that the ammonia was present..normal btw if the tank is cycling. next up is nitrite(sometimes you may see nitrite and ammonia at the same time)

it sounds as if you have an existing established tank..correct??
if you do you can boost the bacteria and help the nitrite along.
you can take some from an existing tank and seed the bacteria that consume nitrite.

if you don't you will need to monitor the tank and keep doing the appropriate water changes to keep the nitrites low.