No Nitrates After A Week?

[BrandedUW]

I probably shouldn't be questioning something good like this, but it seems a little too good to be true. I have a well established, cycled 10G that I recently revamped, so I've been checking my water parameters more than normal. It's been 8 days since my last water change, so I thought I'd test my nitrates before doing a water change, just to see where I'm at since my tank has undergone a lot of recent changes. When I checked mid-week, I had 0 nitrates, which seemed odd given that it's fully stocked, but I figured surely I'd have some nitrates before the weekly water change. When I got a 0 on the nitrate test last night, I was shocked and got worried that I had somehow started a new mini-cycle or something. Nope, everything is testing 0 across the board. Before you ask, yes I know how to properly do a nitrate test and have done so countless times before, so I doubt it's user error unless my test liquid was zapped by aliens in the last week or something. Does this sound normal or likely for a planted tank, to have 0 nitrates after more than a week? Is it possible that my plants are really that efficient? And should I worry that my plants aren't getting enough nitrate? I changed the carbon in my HOB filter last week because it hadn't been changed in AGES, but I didn't really think carbon could filter out nitrates. Finally, should I hold off doing a water change or should I proceed as normal just to freshen things up? I've struggled with high nitrates in the past, but never low nitrates, so I'm at a loss. Thanks in advance.

 

[83jase]

Yes I believe it's because of your plants well planted tanks will consume nitrates keep in mind you will need to start supplementing them due to lack of nitrates

I have to ask did you shake the out of reagent bottle number 2 and do 3 spins while jumping then saying saying 3 hail Mary's lol

Otherwise gives false reading sounds like you got that covered

Even though nitrates are very low still need to do pwc to replenish minerals that are depleted

 

[BrandedUW]

Yes I believe it's because of your plants well planted tanks will consume nitrates keep in mind you will need to start supplementing them due to lack of nitrates

I have to ask did you shake the out of reagent bottle number 2 and do 3 spins while jumping then saying saying 3 hail Mary's lol

Otherwise gives false reading sounds like you got that covered

Even though nitrates are very low still need to do pwc to replenish minerals that are depleted

Thank you, you've confirmed what I was thinking. I normally use ferts but forgot last week because I recently heard you shouldn't use ferts and prime at the same time (but who knows). I normally do a jig while shaking the second bottle, but maybe I'll step it up to some break dancing. I'm kind of excited that I finally have enough plants to keep nitrates in check. One less thing to worry about.

 

[imba]

Yes it is possible. Once in a blue moon I check my tank and nitrates are normally at either 0 or 5

 

[83jase]

Hmm prime and ferts never heard that one

 

[BrandedUW]

Hmm prime and ferts never heard that one

Ya I don't know how true it is. Read it on here recently. People were saying to wait 24 hours in between because the prime would bind to something in the ferts and render it useless. I'm a little doubtful. I don't mind waiting a day in between unless I continue to forget, then it's back to doing it all together.