Question about AmQuel Plus and Nitrates

How does AmQuel Plus affect test results for Nitrate?

My Nitrate readings:
Tap - 10
Treated with amquel plus - 10
Gassed out (day old) treated - 10

The label on amqeul plus says, "each standard does will remove 13ppm nitrates". Shouldn't that make my result on treated water zero?

 

I dunno, but I don't trust those claims aquarium products make. A nitrate reading of 10 isn't going to hurt your fish. I try to stay away from chemicals, as they can be more harmful than the thing they're changing.

 

I agree staying away from chemicals is a good idea, I'm not using Amquel Plus to reduce nitrates in my water. I use the Amquel Plus to remove chlorine and chloramines. Since my tap water has 10 ppm nitrates and Amquel Plus says it remove 13 ppm and my treated water still tests at 10 ppm I'm just a little puzzled as why the reading does not go down ???

 

What type of test are you using? Is it a test strip or liquid test?

 

You need to read the fine print:

From Kordon/Amquel+ Website
This Standard Dose will remove (detoxify) at least 1.2 mg/L (= approx.1,2 ppm) of all ammonia compounds, at least 2.0 mg/L (=2.0 ppm) of nitrites, and at least 13 ppm (=13 mg/L) of nitrates.

When they say remove they say right after that (detoxify) 13ppm of nitrates. What that means is that up to 13ppm of your nitrates in your tank per dosage will no longer be harmful to your fish, however, your test will still show the same amount of nitrate in your tank (as you've noticed ).

 

Wow, this post is a blast from past! I used the liquid test for the Nitrate test and that question was from when I first started testing my water before I "knew" what I was doing. I've since switched from Amquel to Tetra Aquasafe for water conditioners. With weekly water changes I haven't had any problems with Nitrates.