Need advice, increased nitrates

Hi everyone. It's been a while where I can't solve a problem. But here I am. A while ago my nitrate all of a sudden started showing 20ppm for no reason. I kept up with my weekly water changes but it stayed at 20 and I changed nothing. Now my pH is 7.2 from 7.0, my ammonia is 6.0 ppm, my niTrite is 5.0ppm, and my nitrAte is 20 ppm. Did I somehow trigger a mini cycle?

I have an established 30 gallon tank that has been through the nitrogen cycle. I have 3 nerite snails, 2 Cory's, 2 panda plates, I bumble platy, 1baloon belly Molly, 1 golden dust Molly, 3 danios, and 2 glo tetras. I've had them for awhile and I've never had this problem. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

Hmm, with 6.0 ppm of ammonia and 5 ppm nitrites, the nitrates are the least of your worries. 20 ppm of nitrates is fine. It’s best to keep them under 40 ppm.

Having said that, if you had such levels of ammonia and nitrites in your tank, all your fish would be dead. I am questioning the validity of your tests. Can you test your tap water to see if the tests show 0 for all as they should ?

How long ago was your tank cycled ?

 

I was thinking about that. I use an API kit and all my fish are acting normal. I'm going to test my tap right now and I'll be back in 15 to let you know. Thanks.
The tank was cycled January 2020. This is weird. My tap water shows 7.2 pH, 0ppm ammonia, 5.0ppm niTrite, and 20 ppm nitrAte...
My tank was cycled in January 2020. My tap water shows 7.2 pH, 0ppm ammonia, 6.0ppm niTrite, and 20ppm nitrAte... weird.

Hmm, with 6.0 ppm of ammonia and 5 ppm nitrites, the nitrates are the least of your worries. 20 ppm of nitrates is fine. It’s best to keep them under 40 ppm.

Having said that, if you had such levels of ammonia and nitrites in your tank, all your fish would be dead. I am questioning the validity of your tests. Can you test your tap water to see if the tests show 0 for all as they should ?

How long ago was your tank cycled ?

My tank was cycled in January 2020. My tap water shows 7.2 pH, 0ppm ammonia, 6.0 niTrite, and 20ppm nitrate. Weird..

 

My tank was cycled in January 2020. My tap water shows 7.2 pH, 0ppm ammonia, 6.0 niTrite, and 20ppm nitrate. Weird..

That’s highly unlikely. Do you shake the bottle a few seconds before the nitrite test ?

Do you shake bottle no 1 a few seconds for nitrate test ? Then bottle no 2 for 30 secondes ? Then shake the tube for a few seconds after pouring from no 1 bottle ? Then shake the tube for 60 seconds after pouring from bottle no 2 ?

Shaking is a must with these tests. Always for a few seconds, except for nitrates, read above.

It’s one of those times when you really need to read the instructions carefully.

 

That’s highly unlikely. Do you shake the bottle a few seconds before the nitrite test ?

Do you shake bottle no 1 a few seconds for nitrate test ? Then bottle no 2 for 30 secondes ? Then shake the tube for a few seconds after pouring from no 1 bottle ? Then shake the tube for 60 seconds after pouring from bottle no 2 ?

Shaking is a must with these tests. Always for a few seconds, except for nitrates, read above.

It’s one of those times when you really need to read the instructions carefully.

Yes. I do all of that according to the instructions and I run my timer. Is it possible I have bad test bottles? I've had them a while and this has never happened. I could these tests in my sleep.

 

Yes. I do all of that according to the instructions and I run my timer. Is it possible I have bad test bottles? I've had them a while and this has never happened. I could these tests in my sleep.

Then yes, the tests likely have gone bad. I would get new ones. I‘ve never had that happen to me but I’ve seen it from time to time on here.

 

Then yes, the tests likely have gone bad. I would get new ones. I‘ve never had that happen to me but I’ve seen it from time to time on here.

OK, thank you for your time. I live in a nursing home and these are my babies. I'll order a new test kit right away. Thank you and God Bless you for your time.

 

OK, thank you for your time. I live in a nursing home and these are my babies. I'll order a new test kit right away. Thank you and God Bless you for your time.

Anytime ! I would be interested to know what the results are with your new test.

 

Anytime ! I would be interested to know what the results are with your new test.

Thank you, I will let you know. Amazon is overnight shipping. I'm not taking any chances.

 

Thank you, I will let you know. Amazon is overnight shipping. I'm not taking any chances.

Hi dechi, I just wanted to update you. I received my new test kit. It shows my ammonia and niTrite at 0ppm, my pH is only 6.6 for some reason and my nitrAte is 20ppm which I know is safe but it always used to be 0. Any thoughts on the pH and nitrAte??