Why are my test kits always reading 0 for nitrites and nitrates?

Ok some backstory: I have a 29 gallon fully stocked tank that (by my mistake and me being impatient) was not cycled when I added my first fish. I got this tank and set it up about 3 months ago. Added 2 fish 3 days later. Unfortunately lost one, but the other one is still alive and well to this day. My tank is now fully stocked and I haven’t lost any fish other than the first one I got.

I got some test strips and used those then read in some places that they weren’t that reliable, so I bought a liquid test kit. It has been reading the exact same thing for 3 months now. 0.25 ammonia (that is total ammonia. I did the math and my unionized ammonias are at safe levels. I also have an ammonia alert and it says it is safe.) 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates. Every time I test it shows this exact reading. Is there a way to fix this? Did I get a faulty test kit? Is my tank possibly cycled? Thanks in advance!

 

do you have a reason to think your tank isn't cycled? Guessing it's cycled and you're staying on top of water changes to keep the nitrates low, good for you. With no recent deaths and great parameters, I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth and just keep doing what you're doing lol.

 

When you test for nitrAtes, you need to shake the second bottle for 30 seconds if I remember accurately otherwise it can throw off the test results. You also have to shake the vial for like... a whole minute? It's a whole lot of shaking for nitrate tests just in case you didn't already shake them (and it can be easy to forget lol)

 

When you test for nitrAtes, you need to shake the second bottle for 30 seconds if I remember accurately otherwise it can throw off the test results. You also have to shake the vial for like... a whole minute? It's a whole lot of shaking for nitrate tests just in case you didn't already shake them (and it can be easy to forget lol)

i shake the bottles thoroughly every time haha, i also tried hitting the nitrate tests on a table real hard a couple times just in case it solidified or something. no luck

When you test for nitrAtes, you need to shake the second bottle for 30 seconds if I remember accurately otherwise it can throw off the test results. You also have to shake the vial for like... a whole minute? It's a whole lot of shaking for nitrate tests just in case you didn't already shake them (and it can be easy to forget lol)

the only reason I think the tank may not be cycled is because there’s still ammonia being detected, and it’s been reading the same thing since day one. But other than that I don’t really have any other reasons to think its not cycled lol. I have lots of live plants, could that be why it’s not reading for nitrates?

do you have a reason to think your tank isn't cycled? Guessing it's cycled and you're staying on top of water changes to keep the nitrates low, good for you. With no recent deaths and great parameters, I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth and just keep doing what you're doing lol.

the only reason I think the tank may not be cycled is because there’s still ammonia being detected, and it’s been reading the same thing since day one. But other than that I don’t really have any other reasons to think its not cycled lol. I have lots of live plants, could that be why it’s not reading for nitrates?

 

if you are reading for 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates that means your tank has not been cycled yet if i was you i would buy TSS+ (tetra safe start plus) it will help gather the colonies of beneficial bacteria which will form on your decor gravel filter cartridge etc.

 

It could be a faulty test kit. The fact that your fish are fine even after you have completely stocked(and I'm assuming you aren't doing very frequent water changes), as well as the fact that this tank has been up and running with an ammonia source for 3 months makes me think its cycled. Some might even argue that in a cycled tank, small traces of ammonia are normal. For now, if your fish are acting fine and your filter is good(and you have nitrates that do NOT come from your tap) I personally wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

if you are reading for 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates that means your tank has not been cycled yet if i was you i would buy TSS+ (tetra safe start plus) it will help gather the colonies of beneficial bacteria which will form on your decor gravel filter cartridge etc.

Could Safe Start + be used instead of liquid ammonia when first cycling a tank?

 

i think that it would maybe be quicker if you put TSS+ first than put the ammonia in so the TSS+ has food to start the process

Could Safe Start + be used instead of liquid ammonia when first cycling a tank?

 

It could be a faulty test kit. The fact that your fish are fine even after you have completely stocked(and I'm assuming you aren't doing very frequent water changes), as well as the fact that this tank has been up and running with an ammonia source for 3 months makes me think its cycled. Some might even argue that in a cycled tank, small traces of ammonia are normal. For now, if your fish are acting fine and your filter is good(and you have nitrates that do NOT come from your tap) I personally wouldn't worry too much about it.

i actually change the water about once a week, not much though. probably 25 percent. i only do this to get rid of fish waste and clean some algae that builds up over a few days

 

i actually change the water about once a week, not much though. probably 25 percent

This is just my opinion, but for now all I'de do is observe the fish. Also, I would increase water changes to 50% as it is more beneficial for your fish.

 

It could be a faulty test kit. The fact that your fish are fine even after you have completely stocked(and I'm assuming you aren't doing very frequent water changes), as well as the fact that this tank has been up and running with an ammonia source for 3 months makes me think its cycled. Some might even argue that in a cycled tank, small traces of ammonia are normal. For now, if your fish are acting fine and your filter is good(and you have nitrates that do NOT come from your tap) I personally wouldn't worry too much about it.

I agree with this. Also, some test kits (mine included) seem to always read 0.25 ammonia when in fact there is zero ammonia. It’s a known fault. Seems like the yellow color never quite gets to pure yellow. I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

This is just my opinion, but for now all I'de do is observe the fish. Also, I would increase water changes to 50% as it is more beneficial for your fish.

(example) if i would of poured the whole bottle of TSS than did a water change 3 days later wouldnt that hurt the beneficial bacteria?

 

This is just my opinion, but for now all I'de do is observe the fish. Also, I would increase water changes to 50% as it is more beneficial for your fish.

sometimes i do 50%, really depends on why i’m changing water that day. i’ll start doing 50% changes more often now. thanks!

 

i think that it would maybe be quicker if you put TSS+ first than put the ammonia in so the TSS+ has food to start the process

Okay, yeah that makes sense. Thanks!

 

Okay, yeah that makes sense. Thanks!

No problem

 

(example) if i would of poured the whole bottle of TSS than did a water change 3 days later wouldnt that hurt the beneficial bacteria?

Nope, bb lives on surfaces not in the water.

i think that it would maybe be quicker if you put TSS+ first than put the ammonia in so the TSS+ has food to start the process

Ammonia first, so the beneficial bacteria has a food source. I dunno about straight out of a bottle, but established tanks can go for some time without a food source and not lose the cycle.

 

alright thanks for clearing that up!

 

Nope, bb lives on surfaces not in the water.

Ammonia first, so the beneficial bacteria has a food source. I dunno about straight out of a bottle, but established tanks can go for some time without a food source and not lose the cycle.

Do you know what place would sell liquid ammonia? Or is there another option for an ammonia source?

 

Do you know what place would sell liquid ammonia? Or is there another option for an ammonia source?

you could use fish food has ammonia

 

Do you know what place would sell liquid ammonia? Or is there another option for an ammonia source?

Theres dr.tims ammonia(made for cycling), theres bottled ammonia(make sure there aren't cleaning agents, just ammonia), you can use a raw shrimp, fish food works too. Just wait a bit so the fish food or raw shrimp start decomposing and ammonia appears.

 

im not sure if she is cycling or not but she could use a used filter cartridge from one of her tanks (if she has more than one) and place it in her filter and that will speed up the cycling process

 

Theres dr.tims ammonia(made for cycling), theres bottled ammonia(make sure there aren't cleaning agents, just ammonia), you can use a raw shrimp, fish food works too. Just wait a bit so the fish food or raw shrimp start decomposing and ammonia appears.

Yeah, I thought about fish food but I wasn't sure if I would be able to measure it well enough. However, now that I think about it I can probably do ff and use my test kit to track it. Thanks for the help!!

 

Have you tested the water from your tap?

 

As others have said, my test always reads at .25 ppm ammonia. Or at least it is hard to tell the difference between 0 ppm and .25ppm. From what I've read that's the case for most other people too. I wouldn't be worried if I were you.