Nitrates at 0 ppm: Is this normal?

So I've had my planted tank for about 3 months now and I've been consistently testing the water with an API freshwater master test kit. The nitrates have always showed up as 0 for me. I checked and double checked the instructions for the nitrate test and I'm completely sure that I am and have been doing it right. Is this normal?

 

Okay, here are today's test results:



Far left- pH: ~6.8
Middle left- ammonia: 0 ppm
Middle right- nitrite: 0 ppm
Far right- nitrate: 0 ppm
(As you probably already know, the picture makes the colors look weird, but I checked my results at least three times)

I also had a bit of a panic yesterday concerning one of my guppies. At first, it looked like it was bloated and its scales were sticking out, so I quarantined it in a plastic bag (it's funny because I was actually planning on getting a quarantine tank today) in my tank. Upon further inspection however, I determined that none of its scales were sticking out and that my fish was actually female (I got it from Petsmart so I assumed I was getting all males)! So I'm currently trying to figure out whether she has dropsy or is just pregnant. If you guys could look at the pictures and maybe help me figure this out, that would be great!

 

Okay, here are today's test results:

View attachment 763410
Far left- pH: ~6.8
Middle left- ammonia: 0 ppm
Middle right- nitrite: 0 ppm
Far right- nitrate: 0 ppm
(As you probably already know, the picture makes the colors look weird, but I checked my results at least three times)

I also had a bit of a panic yesterday concerning one of my guppies. At first, it looked like it was bloated and its scales were sticking out, so I quarantined it in a plastic bag (it's funny because I was actually planning on getting a quarantine tank today) in my tank. Upon further inspection however, I determined that none of its scales were sticking out and that my fish was actually female (I got it from Petsmart so I assumed I was getting all males)! So I'm currently trying to figure out whether she has dropsy or is just pregnant. If you guys could look at the pictures and maybe help me figure this out, that would be great!

View attachment 763411View attachment 763412

DISCLAIMER: I’m horrible at reading API test results!

But I think I see a small amount of nitrates?

 

DISCLAIMER: I’m horrible at reading API test results!

But I think I see a small amount of nitrates?

Yeah, it looks like that in the photo but IRL it's like a neon yellow.

 

Sometimes when I'm having a hard time deciding if its zero I will hold it next to a tube of tap water I've tested. If they are the same shade I know for sure it's zero.

 

I'm sorry I didn't post my tank's parameters yesterday, my guppy gave birth to some fry but only one survived so I was reading up on how to take care of them, feed them, etc.


I don't have any pictures for yesterday or today's results but here's what I got:

Yesterday
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
pH: ~6.8

Today
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm
pH: ~6.8

 

I'm sorry I didn't post my tank's parameters yesterday, my guppy gave birth to some fry but only one survived so I was reading up on how to take care of them, feed them, etc.
View attachment 764116
I don't have any pictures for yesterday or today's results but here's what I got:

Yesterday
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm
pH: ~6.8

Today
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm
pH: ~6.8

I’d guess if you were going to see ammonia, you would have seen it by now. But post your results one more time tomorrow!

 

Alright, will do!

 

Substrate and cover plays a huge role in guppy fry success. In sand I have about 90% fry fatality with a decently stocked maternity tank. With river rock, about 95% fry survival.

Keep watching those parameters, and if your pH drops there's an issue so don't skip that one

 

So I've had my planted tank for about 3 months now and I've been consistently testing the water with an API freshwater master test kit. The nitrates have always showed up as 0 for me. I checked and double checked the instructions for the nitrate test and I'm completely sure that I am and have been doing it right. Is this normal?

For a heavily planted, lightly stocked tank that can happen even if the tank is cycled- there are not a lot of nitrates with just a few fish, so the plants are able to use it all up. However, the caveat is that there have to be a LOT of plants and a low bioload..,

 

For a heavily planted, lightly stocked tank that can happen even if the tank is cycled- there are not a lot of nitrates with just a few fish, so the plants are able to use it all up. However, the caveat is that there have to be a LOT of plants and a low bioload..,

Pictures of the tank are in post #6 above.

 

Pictures of her tank are in post #6 above.

Ahh, forget what I said about heavily planted- not applicable here! Sorry!