Is It Ok To Have No Nitrates?

[blur411]

I'm fully cycled, Nitrites and ammonia have been 0ppm for weeks now, I get a small spike that is solved by 1 water change a few days after adding a few fish, but doesn't re-spike after that initial time. I still have 0ppm of Nitrates? I have a medium planted tank, 55 gallon, with 5 yoyo loaches, 5 male guppies, 1 guppy fry, 3 platy's, a pleco and an apple snail.

 

[Mauigirl]

I was told this is the hardest test to get right, the bottle marked #2 needs to be beat up literally. smack it on your leg, hand, table until your sick of doing it and then do it some more before testing... if it isn't mixed completely you will get false 0 readings.

I'm new so hope someone will clarify for you but this messed with me at first as you should be seeing something I would think

 

[Aqua Tom]

Zero Nitrates is very unusual. Our nitrifying bacteria eat ammonia & nitrites & produce nitrates.

The Nirate test is very hard to get right as Mauigirl has already pointed out. Put your favorite tune on then use the bottles to "drum" along with on a table untill the tune ends, this should free up any non suspened reagent in the bottles.


Tom

 

[blur411]

Thanks...Ive only been shaking for a few seconds..I'll try again! thanks!

 

[ian]

N03 tests are the most unreliable test in a hobby test kit and belongs in the bin really. There are so many variables when measuring N03.

Unless you're changing water everyday with RO water and have a heavily planted tank, then you may have a trace of N03.

 

[Mauigirl]

OMG!! I was even close to right?? ( sorry but I'm doing a little dance).
The info here is spectacular and I'm in sponge mode.
Testing is something i think I may need an intervention eventually for as I'm a bit OCD on it.
Fish keeping is so rewarding, cant wait to learn more.

 

[Salam]

OMG!! I was even close to right?? ( sorry but I'm doing a little dance).
The info here is spectacular and I'm in sponge mode.
Testing is something i think I may need an intervention eventually for as I'm a bit OCD on it.
Fish keeping is so rewarding, cant wait to learn more.

Bless you, you sound so happy We all learn from each other and then we pass on to the advice to new members, so you are part of the team now

By they way, I am also an OCD tester. I am setting up new tanks and I could in theory use my old media to have them instantly cycled, but I loooove testing daily, adding ammonia and so on so I shall give them a fresh fish-less cycle so I can indulge in my testing OCDs.

 

[Mauigirl]

OMG!! I was even close to right?? ( sorry but I'm doing a little dance).
The info here is spectacular and I'm in sponge mode.
Testing is something i think I may need an intervention eventually for as I'm a bit OCD on it.
Fish keeping is so rewarding, cant wait to learn more.

Bless you, you sound so happy We all learn from each other and then we pass on to the advice to new members, so you are part of the team now

By they way, I am also an OCD tester. I am setting up new tanks and I could in theory use my old media to have them instantly cycled, but I loooove testing daily, adding ammonia and so on so I shall give them a fresh fish-less cycle so I can indulge in my testing OCDs.

Knowledge is power , friends are priceless, forward we go together.

Edit: I think I owe myself a fishless to learn and understand.
I do have a 10 gal i could use..
just need a filter for it.
HEY I like the idea I think I will! Us OCD sorts are useful i think.

 

[Salam]

Knowledge is power , friends are priceless, forward we go together.

Well said

 

[Mauigirl]

Knowledge is power , friends are priceless, forward we go together.

Well said

/hug now I hope the op will report back, I feel horrible hijacking her thread.

 

[Salam]

She is probably shaking away to her favourite tune

 

[blur411]

Haha guys, instead, I had a cup of coffee and then went crazy shaking them. I now have a reading of 10ppm of Nitrates. I feel better. That was driving me nuts... and man the instructions should elaborate a little more on the intense shaking! Thanks so much for your help everyone!

 

[DJH584]

... and man the instructions should elaborate a little more on the intense shaking!

You're right they should. If hadn't been for the experience of other folks on here, I would have been looking at same initial results as you i.e. 0 ppm nitrates. Thank you TFF.

David

 

[Salam]

Hooray to 10ppm nitrates! I had the same problem when I used it first, it showed 0 and I was confused. Now we all know to shake, shake, bang on the table and shake

 

[cambojnr]

I had my tank tested an I also have 0 nitrate as I got my tank tested a at fish store, so is it bad thing if it reads 0?