0 nitrates ????¿ help!

I cycled my 10 gal for 2 months. Ammonia at 3ppm. Nitrates at 2ppm and Nitrates as high as 80ppm . So I had them in my tank at first !!

I tested everything before the Feb 22nd . Ammonia and nitrate went to 0ppm after 24hrs. I still had about 40ppm Nitrates. So I did the final water change. Brought Nitrates to down to about 20ppm

My tank showed all the signs of being cycled after 24hrs ! So I bought my new baby and he has been in the tank for 5 days now .

The first 3 days I got him , I did 25% WC once a day just to be safe. I did use Prime during the cycling and after . I do know prime "locks up" Nitrates and so but I haven't added any for 48hrs.

I tested the water on 2/25 , Ammonia & Nitrites at 0, but Nitrates are low at 5ppm .

I test today , 2/27 , now all 3 parameters are at 0 and ph at 7.2

What happened ? Did I do something wrong . Is my cycle crashing ?
Having 0 Nitrates means a tank isn't cycled but I had them (ALOT) last week ??
My tank is heavily planted with over 20plants , IAL and tannin. I know plants take in nitrates but could they till its 0ppm?

I'm just so confused . If I leave the tank alone do you think they will rise again? I thought they would from 5ppm but they went to 0ppm !!

 

Actually you can have a cycled tank and near 0 nitrates if your plants are consuming more than your fish/livestock are capable of producing.
Most of my tanks are heavily planted and I never see them over the dark yellow of the test results. Ever.
Never orange. Except in the fresh 10 that had no fish new plants and a full dose of thrive.

 

So agreeing with the post above I would be dosing fertilizer and maybe cut back on water changes or the size of water changes. Check out the Easy fertilizers, it’s an all in one and very easy to use

 

Actually you can have a cycled tank and near 0 nitrates if your plants are consuming more than your fish/livestock are capable of producing.
Most of my tanks are heavily planted and I never see them over the dark yellow of the test results. Ever.
Never orange. Except in the fresh 10 that had no fish new plants and a full dose of thrive.

So do you think it's fine then? My last tank, the nitrates was always orange , but I only had 3 plants , not 20... so is it really the plants taking in all that Nitrate ? I thought you need atleast some showing. I'm just really nervous cause this little guy us so beautiful and this is my first heavily planted tank.

So agreeing with the post above I would be dosing fertilizer and maybe cut back on water changes or the size of water changes. Check out the Easy fertilizers, it’s an all in one and very easy to use

I do use Seachem flourish if that's affecting anything.

 

I do use Seachem flourish if that's affecting anything.

As long as your nH3/4 and No2 aren't detectable you should be fine

 

With only one fish. And you did like three water changes in a row....and the plants....could be 0.

 

So do you think it's fine then? My last tank, the nitrates was always orange , but I only had 3 plants , not 20... so is it really the plants taking in all that Nitrate ? I thought you need atleast some showing. I'm just really nervous cause this little guy us so beautiful and this is my first heavily planted tank.

Yup it’s fine most likely. Flourish doesn’t have the nitrates in it that Thrive does. Depends on who you talk to as to whether they like that, or don’t, or loathe it even.

 

The Co-app fertilizer I believe carries around 20ppm of nitrates, reason why I suggested it!