Nitrate Liquid Test Kit

I tested my water yesterday and I found it interesting that for both tanks my nitrate levels tested at 0ppm. At first, I was under the assumption that one of my tanks was having some weird stuff going on by getting a reading of 0, but two tanks now? I'm almost suspecting that I need to purchase a new nitrate test kit. Any ideas? I believe I am shaking the second bottle well enough to be testing this correctly.

Tanks Info:
- Both tanks have driftwood and plants
- 20 gallon and 3 gallon tank
- stock information can be found in my profile

 

I agree that is suspicious. I assume you are "banging the heck" out of bottle #2, not just shaking it. Do you know anyone else who has a test kit you could borrow OR know a pet store you trust to run the test (my two LFS both do liquid tests)?

 

I think I'm shaking it well enough as in the past I have seen some nitrate levels. My 3 gallon tank was recently established/ cycled and I recall having nitrate levels of up to 80ppm while cycling.

I guess when I get home I can "bang the bottle"? I usually only use my hand and shake the heck out of the bottle. I don't necessarily hit it with any other objects.

 

How heavily planted and stocked are they? If you have lots of plants with low stocking it is entirely possible to get results of zero on the nitrate test.

 

I usually bang the bottle a couple of times against the counter before shaking it. You haven't rinsed the filter media in tap water or replaced it at all, have you?

 

Looking at your profile, both tanks are lightly stocked, and if you aren't carelessly overfeeding I'd say it is quite possibly the nitrates are being consumed by plants.

Is your test kit in date? I think if it's exposed to high heat it might compromise it but I'm not 100%

 

I had the suspicion that it could be that both my tanks are lightly stocked and heavily planted. I only feed my fish once a day. At times... I feed every other day depending on how busy I am at work. Could this be the problem?

As far as my media, I have not rinsed it with tap water. I have, however, rinsed it with old tank water during a WC.

My test kit is also up to date. It does not expire until 2020 (If I recall correctly).

 

Looking at your profile, both tanks are lightly stocked, and if you aren't carelessly overfeeding I'd say it is quite possibly the nitrates are being consumed by plants.

Is your test kit in date? I think if it's exposed to high heat it might compromise it but I'm not 100%

A planted tank can have 0 nitrates and be cycled. What's the ammonia and nitrite readings?

 

A planted tank can have 0 nitrates and be cycled. What's the ammonia and nitrite readings?

ammonia 0.25 ppm and nitrite 0 ppm for both tanks. Thanks.

 

You could be cycled,however most of the time ammonia is 0 PPM. On occasion ammonia will spike to. 25 PPM . Check in a day or 2 ammonia should go down to 0 . If it go's up I'd say your not yet cycled

 

HI Dave75g I tested my water again and I saw some ammonia on both tanks at 0.25 ppm. The following day my 20 gallon went from 0.25 ppm to 0 ppm. I'm pretty certain my cycle is doing its job. I'm almost leaning with the idea that because my tanks are heavily planted and they both have low fish stock... the plants are taking care of the nitrates on their own. Is this pretty safe to assume by now?

Thank you everyone for your help.

 

Yes if the ammonia dropped that quick I'd say your cycled. In a heavy planted tank it's normal for low nitrate readings. I could never get my nitrate below 10. As high as 40 sometimes. Since I put plants in it don't go higher than 5.

 

Nice. Thanks!