Nitrite And Nitrate

[mrshunt90]

I did a water check earlier and both came out at 0ppm is this good bad? should one be high and the other low. so confused

 

[FishBlast]

I did a water check earlier and both came out at 0ppm is this good bad? should one be high and the other low. so confused

Only if ammonia is also 0 that would be a good sign. Else it could mean there are no bacteria in there, but nitrates going 0 means you have a heavy planted tank. If you don't have lots of plants that might have consumed your nitrates, then it might mean your tank is filling with ammonia...

 

[sadguppy]

I have never seen nitrates in my tanks, not since I was cycling. Odd... but as long as I don't have ammonia and nitrites it doesn't worry me too much!

 

[littlenemo]

you need need nitrate in your tank to ammonia bad =nitrites bad = nitrate = good nitrate should be around 20ppm no nitrate means fish waste ammonia turns into nitrites toxic will kill fish no good bactiria

 

[FishBlast]

you need need nitrate in your tank to ammonia bad =nitrites bad = nitrate = good nitrate should be around 20ppm no nitrate means fish waste ammonia turns into nitrites toxic will kill fish no good bactiria

Nitrate can be reduced by plants. It isn't needed but if ammo and nitrite are 0 and stay 0 over the course of the week, then 0 nitrate is fine too.

 

[sadguppy]

Of course you need to check ammonia too... But if they are zero then that shouldn't be too much to worry about as plants can use up nitrates so they might not always be evident in a well planted, well maintained tank, so I am led to believe.

 

[littlenemo]

suppose but that would mean you would have to test it all the time and do water changes all the time and if you didnt water change for what ever reason then ammonia would build up fast???

 

[sadguppy]

Posted at the same time! Still do that water change though, just in case

 

[littlenemo]

my tank is heavy planted and i have a constant 20ppm on nitrate and all ways 0 ammonia and nitrites.

suppose but that would mean you would have to test it all the time and do water changes all the time and if you didnt water change for what ever reason then ammonia would build up fast???

 

[sadguppy]

suppose but that would mean you would have to test it all the time and do water changes all the time and if you didnt water change for what ever reason then ammonia would build up fast???

Why is that? By having plants consuming the end product of the cycle ie the nitrates, it just means you are a step closer to having a happy balanced tank. Water changes will still need to be done to get rid of solid waste and replace minerals etc, but it won't cause any harm at all to have no nitrates...

 

[littlenemo]

so if u dont need any nitrate then what is the point in cycling a tank with ammonia?? you add pure ammonia test ammonia and nitrites daily untill they 0 in 12 hours which gives u high nitrate a massive water change gives you 20 nitrate thats what i was teached by all the members on here

 

[FishBlast]

suppose but that would mean you would have to test it all the time and do water changes all the time and if you didnt water change for what ever reason then ammonia would build up fast???

Why is that? By having plants consuming the end product of the cycle ie the nitrates, it just means you are a step closer to having a happy balanced tank. Water changes will still need to be done to get rid of solid waste and replace minerals etc, but it won't cause any harm at all to have no nitrates...

I hope I can get enough plants to reduce the nitrates. Would be awesome.

 

[sadguppy]

my tank is heavy planted and i have a constant 20ppm on nitrate and all ways 0 ammonia and nitrites.

suppose but that would mean you would have to test it all the time and do water changes all the time and if you didnt water change for what ever reason then ammonia would build up fast???

I am sure that I will get more nitrates as I add more fish, however I have none in my tapwater and have tested regularly. Zilch for all three in all three of my tanks. Bizaare and unexpected but not worrying

 

[littlenemo]

plants wont take the ammonia down to 0 if ammonia built up. thats what you have nitrate for. plants help yes i had a heavy planted tank when i cycled i added ammonia to 4ppm and it took over 2 weeks to 0 with pants in there then as my nitrate built up my ammonia and nitrite 0 faster and fast untill nitrate was about 20 it 0 in 8 hours

 

[sadguppy]

so if u dont need any nitrate then what is the point in cycling a tank with ammonia?? you add pure ammonia test ammonia and nitrites daily untill they 0 in 12 hours which gives u high nitrate a massive water change gives you 20 nitrate thats what i was teached by all the members on here

Ah, I see your point now sorry.

The point is that you need to see nitrates to know the cycle is complete ie the bacteria is present which changes ammonia to Nitrites and Nitrites to nitrates. Once your tank is cycled, you don't need nitrates per se. They just indicate when an empty tank is cycled, as they are the end product of the nitrogen cycle.