Api Liquid Test Kit And Nitrates

I know the nitrate part of the test kit is one many struggle with but I have done it 3 times and every time the results have come back 0 except for the last one which was 5. I was away and haven’t done a water change in 2 weeks.(I know which was bad). I have two plants and a Betta in a 5 gallon. The nitrates should be higher than that. Does anyone know what I’m doing wrong. Please help.

Here is a picture of the test:

 

How are you doing the nitrate test?

 

How are you doing the nitrate test?

Ten drops of first bottle, then hit the bottom of the second bottle on the table a couple times and then shake for 3 minutes, to make sure it’s mixed up, then adding 10 drops, then shaking tube for 1minite and letting sit and I’m not getting any results like I think I should be getting I got 0 on ammonia and nitrite. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong

 

3 minutes? That’s a long time, not that it’ll hurt anything, but 30 seconds vigorously is all you need to do. How long has the Betta been in there?

 

3 minutes? That’s a long time, not that it’ll hurt anything, but 30 seconds vigorously is all you need to do. How long has the Betta been in there?

2 months, the tank is cycled

 

Well there’s nothing wrong with low nitrates, so it’s definitely not something to worry about if it’s low. You likely have DEnitrifying bacteria that turn nitrates into atmospheric Nitrogen, mixed with your plants taking some too. What kind of filter and media do you have?

 

I also want to mention that live plants absorb nitrates.

 

Well there’s nothing wrong with low nitrates, so it’s definitely not something to worry about if it’s low. You likely have DEnitrifying bacteria that turn nitrates into atmospheric Nitrogen, mixed with your plants taking some too. What kind of filter and media do you have?

I have a HOB and a sponge intake on he filter and a blue filter cartridge that’s hold BB I will probably get rings soon. I had only two water wisteria, could they absorb 2-3 weeks of nitrates.