|  | 
July 7th, 2007
|
| | Fish Helper
| zero nitrates?!
G'day all,
I've been monitoring daily with a brand new API test kit, watched the ammonia reach 2.0 then the nitrites started up, the ammonia dropped to 0.0 and the nitrites reached 0.5, then the nitrites gradually dropped to 0.0 also (there have been no less than 3 guppies in the tank throughout this process). I was performing 25% twice daily water changes the whole time until the nitrites vanished. You're probably thinking "cool - this is normal and good" but here's the kicker...
For the last 7 days I'm still monitoring the levels, I've increased the stock in the tank slightly (see signature) figuring slow and steady was the way to go, and NO water changes. The readings are ALL ZEROS - no ammonia or nitrites is a good thing, but I'm still not showing any nitrates after a week without water changes, I have no live plants in the tank and I'm certain I'm doing the test correctly (5ml water in the tube, 10 drops from bottle 1, shake the tube with cap on, shake bottle 2, 10 drops from bottle 2, shake tube again, wait 5 minutes = reading 0.0).
I did a 25% water change today just in case, but I'm wondering if there's any reason why I might not be seeing nitrate readings at all? (And don't say nitrate aliens!  ) | 
| | |
July 7th, 2007
|
| | Moderator
| Re: zero nitrates?!
You will see them I promise just wait a couple of days 
Carol | |
| | |
July 8th, 2007
|
| | Moderator
| Re: zero nitrates?!
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Xenomorph G'day all,
I've been monitoring daily with a brand new API test kit, watched the ammonia reach 2.0 then the nitrites started up, the ammonia dropped to 0.0 and the nitrites reached 0.5, then the nitrites gradually dropped to 0.0 also (there have been no less than 3 guppies in the tank throughout this process). I was performing 25% twice daily water changes the whole time until the nitrites vanished. You're probably thinking "cool - this is normal and good" but here's the kicker...
For the last 7 days I'm still monitoring the levels, I've increased the stock in the tank slightly (see signature) figuring slow and steady was the way to go, and NO water changes. The readings are ALL ZEROS - no ammonia or nitrites is a good thing, but I'm still not showing any nitrates after a week without water changes, I have no live plants in the tank and I'm certain I'm doing the test correctly (5ml water in the tube, 10 drops from bottle 1, shake the tube with cap on, shake bottle 2, 10 drops from bottle 2, shake tube again, wait 5 minutes = reading 0.0).
I did a 25% water change today just in case, but I'm wondering if there's any reason why I might not be seeing nitrate readings at all? (And don't say nitrate aliens! ) | Hi there,
are you sure you doing the nitrate test correctly? When you do the nitrate test you have to make sure that you shake the bottle #2 for 30 seconds. Then after adding the solution to the tube, you have to shake the tube for a total of 1 minute, then wait 5 minutes to read the results. Its important that you take these steps for a accurate reading of nitrates.  | |
| | |
July 9th, 2007
|
| | Fish Helper
| Re: zero nitrates?!
Well paint me yellow and call me tweetybird! I grabbed that old bottle#2 and tapped it, bashed it, shook it, tapped it some more and just plain old abused it for a good solid minute - and then I did it again while I was running all the other tests... then after adding #2 I shook that ol' test tube intull my head hurt!
Less than 30 seconds after that the solution began to colour - thanks for the heads up! The crystals had probably settled good and proper in the bottom of the bottle and weren't getting mixed up properly before use. result: 5ppm the day after a 25% water change.
Thanks again!  | |
| | |
July 9th, 2007
|
| | Moderator
| Re: zero nitrates?!
So glad the advice worked out for you!  | |
| | |
July 9th, 2007
|
| | Fish Mentor
| Re: zero nitrates?!
LOL...I've got this lovely mental image of a figure just pounding the crud out of the test bottle, cursing it all the while! Glad you got it going! | |
| | |
July 9th, 2007
|
| | Fish Helper
| Re: zero nitrates?!
Congrats now you have a fully cycled tank, and i know how good that feels. | |
| | |
July 10th, 2007
|
| | Fish Mentor
| Re: zero nitrates?!
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Xenomorph Well paint me yellow and call me tweetybird! I grabbed that old bottle#2 and tapped it, bashed it, shook it, tapped it some more and just plain old abused it for a good solid minute - and then I did it again while I was running all the other tests... then after adding #2 I shook that ol' test tube intull my head hurt!
Less than 30 seconds after that the solution began to colour - thanks for the heads up! The crystals had probably settled good and proper in the bottom of the bottle and weren't getting mixed up properly before use. result: 5ppm the day after a 25% water change.
Thanks again! | OK tweetybird, glad it worked!  I wish they made it clearer in the instructions, as expensive as this test kit is, but in the end I'm glad to hear your tank is cycled, and normal. Maybe some day you will have some super advice for me.......this life is a never ending learning experience.
Fish in the Frozen North | |
| | |
Similar Aquarium Fish Forum Threads 
One thing I can say, that is a good sized tank for so few fish, and it is a good chance that those nitrates will show up soon, but never get out of hand with the current stocking........I wish we all had such restraint! 