O Readings Have Me Confused

My 65 gallon recently stabilized and gave had 0 ammonia and now 0 nitrite readings for 2 days but the thing I don't get us that there is also 0 nitrate readings too! I have 3 plants but shouldn't I be getting some nitrate seeing as my nitrite has only been 0 for 2 days? Doesn't nitrite turn into nitrate?
Confused. Using apI master test kit and nitrate and ammonia are yellow while nitrite test is light blue= all 0 readings

 

0 nitrates could mean that your tank hasn’t really cycled. However, I’ll pass the baton to toosie to help you out with this.

 

Are you beating the 2nd nitrate bottle like it stole something for half a minute or more before adding those drops? And also shaking the vial after the second set of drops for a full minute?
Any fish in this tank?

 

Are you beating the 2nd nitrate bottle like it stole something for half a minute or more before adding those drops? And also shaking the vial after the second set of drops for a full minute?
Any fish in this tank?

No I do not think I shook for a minute, more like 30 seconds. I did shake up the 2nd nitrate bottle like a red headed step child tho.
Yes there are fish, I got 3 more Cory doras and an Angel yesterday after reading nitrite were at 0 the day before and it being my birthday. SO my total fish count in my 65G tank is now at 12 fish.
Was so happy it cycled I thought my tank was giving me a birthday present , hoping I didn't jump the gun here. I did 2 nitrate test but perhaps I will do another and I'll actually read the directions this time to make sure I'm getting an accurate reading.

 

You could always buy beg borrow or steal a couple of test strips, and see if they tell a different story. I know they aren’t exactly precise, but if they read a clear colour, and your API still at 0, that tells you something. Well, it sort of creates more questions, but in a good way.

 

You could always buy beg borrow or steal a couple of test strips, and see if they tell a different story. I know they aren’t exactly precise, but if they read a clear colour, and your API still at 0, that tells you something. Well, it sort of creates more questions, but in a good way.

I may do that or bring in a sample to my local petsmart to test as they are quite close. Ya good idea. I shall try one more nitrate test at home while keeping the test instructions in mind and see what turns up

 

Yeah, I'm also thinking that bottle #2 is the guilty culprit. In fact I would take bottle #2 and smack it firmly on table several times (not so hard you crack the bottle, but pretty hard) and then shake that bottle really hard. First time of doing this, I'd probably shake it for a good minute. Then do the test. It helps to use a babies oral syringe or a pipette of some kind to collect the sample of water. Sometimes I hear of people trying to do these test just by dipping the test tube into the tank to fill it to the line, but I just find that majorly frustrating. Do make sure you rinse the test tube with tank water first to help ensure an accurate test.

But, back to bottle #2...the reason I'd smack it on a table (or floor) a few times is because part of the solution crystallizes at the bottom of the bottle, especially if a bottle has been sitting around for a while. Smacking it helps loosen and break up these crystals, freeing them to mix with the rest of the solution while shaking.

 

Awesome done and done and we are showing a nitrate reading of 5.0ppm!

 

Awesome done and done and we are showing a nitrate reading of 5.0ppm!

I am not sure what you used to cycle the tank but judging from your nitrate test, I'd hazard a guess of a few small fish? Just a friendly reminder to increase stock slowly so that you don't overwhelm your cycle and have an ammonia or nitrite spike.

Congratulations on your cycle!