Been waiting for my test system to cycle, it was started with ammonia several weeks ago. But I had not been seeing anything since I started it, been using some test strips I had, didn't notice they were pretty old. They would read PH, but no reading on Nitrites or Nitrates, so I kept adding a little ammonia thinking I didn't have enough. Just got by new API test kit today and WOW!

Ammonia 8+ PPM
PH 7.6+
Nitrite 5+ PPM
Nitrate 40-80 PPM

So after some major water change out we have it down to the following:
Ammonia 4 +/- PPM
PH 7.6
Nitrite 5 PPM
Nitrate 5 PPM

So I'm thinking now that I should wait for ammonia & nitrites to 0 out. Try to get the PH down a little more too. And go ahead and add some plants or seedlings till it's safe to add fish.
Comments or suggestions?