Probably a bad test kit, because like goose said, your fish would be dead. anything that's lavender or purple in my API test kit means there's nitrites, otherwise it would stay a pretty blue color.
thanks D, i even went out and bought a 2nd kit just for nitrite and nitrate. i used both kits seperately and they're giving me the same results, so i'm thrilled. :bounce:
I had problems with my test kit also. I would put the chemical in and almost instantly the colour would go to blood purple. I tried again and same thing, so I called Hagen (ewww) and they told me apparently if the chemicals are" expired" it can mess up the test. I didt know noxious chemicals in air sealed containers expired so fast :P