u/EmergencyWilling46

This is my first time using test strips in the past I've used the api liquid tests and I dont know how accurate these strips are. My tank has been no fish cycling for 27 days and I've been using fish food for ammonia. Today its showing 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 0 nitrate (or close to 0) I havent made any water changes yet. Last week the tests showed 0 ammonia, 1ppm nitrite and 25ppm nitrate. So what happened to all the nitrate? Right now it just a bare bottom with a hang on filter, and 3 driftwood with biofilm growing on them. I'll do another test tonight to see if it changes but does anyone know whats going on? Did the cycle crash or something? Or is it the test strips acting up?

This was my betta old 3.5 gallon half moon tank. I plan to use it as a sea monkey tank once I successfully hatch the sea monkeys in the smaller tank they came with. Should I remove the gravel and rocks and replace it with sand? Or is bare bottom better?

Edit: okay based on what other people are saying in this reddit is that gravel kills sea monkeys. Ill be removing the gravel.