thanson

This morning my favorite fish (Marigold Sword-male)is not looking so perky so I tested the water. 0 ammonia 0 nitrite 80 nitrate.

Also one of my Red Platy's was dead as well. The rest of tank is swimming and happy. Attacked at feeding time as normal. (Except Sword)

This is a Nitrate climb of 60 in 3 days.

I did a 50% water change and it dropped the Nitrate to 40. No shock as that is logical.

How soon can I do another water change to get the Nitrate down. Also is that type of a spike normal?

gmen4life

wow are you useing API liquid test kit? that seems out of this world on a nitrate gain

thanson

That is what I thought and want to know what I am doing wrong?

Beth1965

Have you added any new fish or decorations? Or taken out anything?
Beth

thanson

Added three cory's on sunday. Also was having issues with my test kit and I am wondering if maybe Nitrate bottle # 2 is out of whack because I had not shook and banged it enough. It is now working but??

Beth1965

I suggest you go back and bang the heck outta the bottle and redo the test. How's that sound?
Beth

Lucy

I'm really sorry you lost your platy.
Usually you'll get a false negative rather than a false high reading by not shaking the bottle enough.
What's your water change routine? You might want to think about stepping them up or adding some live plants.

jdhef

Is it possible that you weren't shaking bottle #2 in the past, and you were getting low readings. and now you have shaken enough and are getting a proper reading?

Also, I would think that if you hadn't been shaking bottle #2 enough in the past, you may have a disportionatley high percentage of cyrstals now, which may be skewing your tests.

You should be able to do another 50% waterchange now without any adverse effects. I was recently having nitrate problems (my tap water contains 10ppm nitrates). I have since switch my water conditioner to Amquel+, which detoxes nitrates (among other things). The only downside to Amquel+ is it is not compatable with the API Ammonia test (it will give a false positive).

thanson

Thought I might test it again tonight and if it is still high changing it again tomorrow morning.

peacemaker92

wow! 80 nitrate?? That's mad and like probably impossible! LOL well, Good luck! I'm sure the well experienced members here can help you!