thanson

It has been a month since I cycled and added fish. Things look great the fish are swimming and look happy and have learned that I am the giver of food.

I test with an API kit and have for the last three weeks had a zero nitrate reading along with my zero ammonia and nitrite.

So is this normal. I have followed the directions and shook the sample vigorously.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Shawnie

do you have live plants in your tank? and what fish are in your tank? did you ever have a nitrate reading ?

Beeker

Hi thanson.
I have a few questions just for clarification:
Is the test kit strips or liquid?
How did you cycle the tank?
Do you have live plants in the tank?

thanson

liquid test

no live plants

had nitrate reading at the end of the fishless cycle and it went away after i added fish.

will be adding live plants later

It is a 55 gallon tank with
7 Zebra Danio
3 Sunset Plato
3 Red Platy
2 Marigold Swords

Wanting to add 4 Cory Cats and then I am done

jwokmuba2

you really need to slam your nitrate bottle #2 on something hard like a countertop or table or something like them. youll now when you have mixed up good because the liquid will look cloudy because of the crystals in the bottle, good luck.

Shawnie

something is severely wrong then whats the lot#'s of your test kit bottles? you deffinately should have nitrates with that stock and no live plants....bang that bottle again and test the nitrates again ..

thanson

lot # 18A1208

I have shook it banged and it still comes out clear. I have another new kit I am going to pull the nitrate kit out and test again.

Shawnie

1208 is suppose to be good for 3 years...hmm very weird ...have you changed out your filter media or done any drastic changes to the tank other than adding fish? what water conditioner do you use? some dont go with the api test kits and could be giving you a false reading

thanson

Ok after I mega shook and banged on the counter the retest is 10 PPM.

At what level is a must change water. I have yet to mess with the filter media.

I am running a Fluval 405 and a HOB 30-60 filter and plan on only changing one filter media at a time. On the HOB I added a bio catcher from F&S. I have focused heavily on giving the bacteria a place to live.

Is my stocking ok and do I have room for the 4-5 Cory's

yukoandk

I would like a rep from API to read this thread. It's just so...hilarious! I got a laugh for the day, thank you. Other than that, no comment. Sorry, still laughing.

Shawnie

having issues? why are you laughing? or is it so funny you cant share ?

yukoandk

Oh, hi shawnie. I'm laughing only because I can relate to having to shake and bang the natrate #2 bottle. That's all. Unless there's a rule for no laughing on this forum.

Shawnie

the only rule is laugh more! I thought you were questioning the banging

Blub

Thats a good stock with loads of space for more.

You should water change every week, and if the nitrates gets above 20 then you should check it out because something might have gone wrong.

yukoandk

thanson, I apologize for side-tracking from your original question. It was not my intention to make light of your situation while I'm no expert in nitrate level for a tropical tank. But sorry, I'm still laughing.

thanson

laugh away it makes the world a better/happier place. I had no idea you had to whack the Nitrate #2 bottle that much to make it work.

Shawnie

im glad you got a reading!!!! and we all have been there with that dreaded #2 bottle...

and yes you do have room for your cories...good luck!

jdhef

Most people here will recommend that you do water changes ofter enough to keep your nitrates under 20. The API booklet recommends that you keep them under 40, and I have read that under 50 is good.

I personally would stay under 20 if possible. My tap water contains a nitrate level of 10, so it has been really impractical to stay under 20 so I aim to be under 40.

But there are other benefits to water changes. For one, the new water contains more oxygen, and the new water will also help replace depleted trace elements. So I would plan on doing a partial water change weekly, and let your nitrate readings be a guide to what percent of the water you change.

jwokmuba2

how old is your filter media, i have heard of people keeping the same filter media for 5,6,7, years or longer. all you have to do is rinse it with used tank water every once in a while.

thanson

It is only 3 months old and only 5 weeks with fish.

jwokmuba2

you can buy a bio spong, or something lke it and it will last you a long time, alot of aquarists dont even use carbon in there filters, just something to think about

Blub

I don't. I have no need for it - it takes out chemicals, but needs replacing weekly. I only use it to get medications etc. out of the tank.