Fishless Cycling - Nitrates Being Removed - Nitrate Sponge To Blame?

[Jonno]

Hi there,

I'm waiting for my nitrites to drop, i did a nitrate test today and strangely i have only 5ppm of nitrate. My standard tap water is 20ppm, and my biorb is usually between that and 40ppm, so where has my nitrates gone!? I thought i was cracking up at first, so i ran the test again getting the same result

This got me thinking - in my filter i have a Nitrate sponge - is this removing my nitrates? Will this effect my fishless cycle in any way (i.e does it need removing)? Or is this good because a not so large water change will be needed at the end of the cycle?

Thanks!

Jonno.

 

[doresy]

Hi, do you have real plants?

 

[Jonno]

Hi, do you have real plants?

yep, didnt expect them to reduce nitrates by that much though!

 

[doresy]

It's either the plants or a faulty test. Hopefully you are using a API liquid test, if so make sure the bottles are being shaken as per instructions.

 

[Jonno]

yep using API test - but shook as per instructions both times!

 

[rdd1952]

The sponge is probably removing them at the present time but it will eventually get saturated and stop. I'm not a big fan of nitrate sponges as I think some people use them as a replacement for regular water changes which serve more purposes than just removing nitrates. Plants will remove some nitrates but not a lot unless you are heavily planted.

 

[loachman]

The sponge is probably removing them at the present time but it will eventually get saturated and stop. I'm not a big fan of nitrate sponges as I think some people use them as a replacement for regular water changes which serve more purposes than just removing nitrates. Plants will remove some nitrates but not a lot unless you are heavily planted.

I'd agree.

Also be sure you're shaking the bottles like a madman. I found a huge change in the measured nitrate by shaking (by turning them upside down) and SHAKING the bottles.