Emergency!

[KezJona]

I've just gone to test all my water parameters for todays log of my fishless cycle and the Nitrates is just staying at 0ppm!!!!!!!! I have tested, re-tested and tested again but it still gives me the same value!!!!

I have done nothing to the tank at all! I checked my parameters last night @ 19:00 and my Nitrates were 40ppm. The tank has not been touched at all as everyone has been at work! I really don't have a clue what has happened, please help?

Edit: I dosed back to 2ppm of Ammonia last night but that has all that has happened to the tank and my Ammonia reading is now 0.

 

[KezJona]

bump

 

[coldcazzie]

Hmm... I would write it off as a fluke negative.

TEst again later, perhaps shake the #2 bottle for twice as long next time...?

 

[KezJona]

Hmm... I would write it off as a fluke negative.

TEst again later, perhaps shake the #2 bottle for twice as long next time...?

Thanks Cazzie, I will try again now. It's been over 12 hours so hopefully it won't be the same result.

 

[KezJona]

Just done a re-test and there seems to be around 30ppm in there now. I have redosed my Ammonia to 2ppm as there was 0 in there, so hopefully it will all be right again in tomorrows test. Thanks for the help Cazzie, crisis averted!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The nitrate test is hard to get an accurate reading on... Keep shaking the bottle #2 longer than they recommend (a full minute) and then shake the tube as long as possible (at least 90 seconds) before waiting the 5 minutes to read it.


NItrate test readings are not a crisis. Focus on the easier to read and predict ammonia and nitrite. They are the ones that are ultimately dangerous to your fish. Nitrates are just there as a gauge for the need to change the water (not that they are all that matter, but as the nitrate rises other things are building up and others are being used and need to be replaced). I only test my nitrates monthly, but I do a 30% water change every week. Water changes are a part of standard maintenance, even if nitrates remain low. Mine have never read higher than 30ppm, but I do the water change anyway, because I realize that there are more benefits to the water change than just decreasing nitrates.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I've been known to whack the test bottle a few times on the tabletop to loosen up anything stuck inside. It's amazing how different the results can be!

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I've been known to whack the test bottle a few times on the tabletop to loosen up anything stuck inside. It's amazing how different the results can be!

This^ and hit it hard or save your self the hassle and buy salifert test kits next time

 

[Aqua Tom]

Nitrate is notoriously difficult to test for accurately so dont bother. You only realy need to know your Nitrat reading just before your final water change in a fishless cycle.

I cant remember the last time I tested for it.


Tom.

 

[KezJona]

Cool, thank you all for your hints and answers. I did a test today but wasn't truley bothered about it. But I will take into account hitting the bottle on the tabletop a few times next time I test it.

When I saw it though dread filled me, thinking I had ruined my cycle - losing the will to carry on However, crisis averted!

Thank you all