No Nitrite Or Nitrate?

[KevJ87]

Hey guys, so my 29 gallon is up and running and I have some plants set up with Tahitian black moon sand so that one is ready to rock and roll, used safe start and getting pure ammonia tomorrow.
 
The 10 gallon however is STILL giving me problems, its been almost 2 months now... and still even after water changes ammonia continues to come back around 1.0 ppm  ( on the ion scale obvious ) with api master test kit.  I know that's not a dangerous level but still its not breaking down it seems.
 
I don't know how this is even possible but Nitrite and Nitrate are both completely ZERO. I have been testing non stop for weeks I don't understand it at all, the pet store doesnt understand either.
 
Incase it was just OFF the charts, I did a dilution test first diluting by 1/2 than by 1/5 and still zero nitrite and zero nitrate.
 
How is it possible that a 2 month old tank, using the Whisper filter that has bio sponge as well as plently of substrate and a lot of deco in the tank for bacteria to grow on the underside NOT produce nitrite or nitrate... can anyone help me solve this problem??

 

[Mamashack]

How are you developing the 10G? Are you fishless or fish-in cycling? Is the tank heavily or lightly planted?
Dilution tests are only useful if the test results are on the highest level on the colour chart rather than lowest.
For the nitrate test are you really giving those bottles a good shake? In fact bottle no. 2 needs to be traumatised (bashed against something hard for ages) sometimes to get the 2 reagents to combine effectively.

 

[the_lock_man]

What is the pH of the 10Gallon?
 
What level of ammonia are you dosing to?

 

[KevJ87]

It is a fish in cycle that is 2 months old ( i didn't know about fishless before this ) my new 29 gallon is curretly in fishless stage.
 
The ph is 7.8 -> 8.0 around there with high range and low range both showing max / min values so right on the line.
 
There are only 5 guppies inthe 10 gallon tank at the moment.

 

[gh74]

Are you using any treatments in the water,or have you a purigen in your filter etc,my tanks are cycled and my results are,the are what my 2 tanks a reading
 
ph 7.6
hr 7.4
ammonia 0.25 sometimes its ZERO
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
 
mine is like that before i put the purigen in the filter so i'd say its nothing to worry about,but other may say different as they are alot more experienced than me

 

[KevJ87]

Since the tank has been up I have used a few ammonia treatments maybe that hurt the bacteria. I have been doing ALOT of water changes so that obviously slows it down as well buts its been 2 months ! You would think there would be some breakdown into nitrite/nitrate. 
 
Yes I have used Carbon / Purigen (purgien to remove a tannin explosion).

 

[gh74]

The purigen will give you a reading of zero nitrite & zero nitrate,i never worry about as its fine and have been told that be expert fish keepers

 

[KevJ87]

The purigen has been out of the aquarium though for about 2-3 weeks now, and was only in for a few weeks to clear up the tannin issue, so would it still be effecting the test readings?

 

[gh74]

hmmm am really not sure on that 1 kev,but its nothing to worry about,i always thought that it was an issue but its not,do a water test straight form your tap and see what your reading are,i did this and you might be surprised by it

 

[KevJ87]

Will do thanks again for helping me out it has been driving me crazy having a little ammonia zero nitrite and nitrates. I always have issues with small tanks.

 

[gh74]

No Worries Kev,other may tell you different but when i was questioning my Nitrite/nitrates the ones that told me that it is nothing to worry about even if the tank is cycled & them guys have 30-45 years exp and the breeders also and there tanks read ZERO,Plankton on here told me that it was ok as my tank was cycled and he knows his stuff aswell

,you got any pics of your tank/tanks?...would you not go for a big tank?
 
Ah plankton is on a different forum sorry lol
 
Regards Graham

 

[Ch4rlie]

Did you follow the Fishless Cycle Article ?
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first/
 
Or did you follow a different method?
 
What I may suggest you do is to take a sample of tank water from the 10G to LFS and see what their test kit say for all tests for comparison. 
Its a possibility it may be your test kit thats giving false or wrong readings or even you may be doing the tests wrong. 
 
But its the zero readings for nitrates thats putting me off, as a cycled tank will nearly always show a reading for nitrate unless very heavily planted.

 

[KevJ87]

The local fish store is in shock as well, they are getting 0.50 ppm Ammona /// 0 Nitrite /// 0 Nitrate and this is 2 months into the 10 gallon. IF you read above I didn't know about the fishless method when I set this tank up so it was a fish in method but I did add some SafeStart 3 days ago since I was concerned there was 0 good bacteria even after 2 months since 0 readings on both nitrite and nitrate.
 
I am currently fishless cycling my 29 gallon with plants in it so I am only keeping the ammona between 1.5 ppm - 2.0 ppm as to not hurt the plants. I put safe start in this fishless 29 gallon about 3 days ago as well, there is a SMALL amount of nitrates so small its not 5 ppm but a little darker than 0 ppm.
 
The 10 gallon is just frustrating me I have no idea how after 2 months I get readings of 0 nitrite and 0 nitrate and this is been done with multiple tests. And yes bottle 2 as been slammed / thrown / beaten into submission before using 

.
 
My tap water has the following test readings :  Tests done with API freshwater master   ((( Ion Scale PPM readings of course )))
 
0.50 ppm Ammonia
0 Nitrite
0 Nitrate
The water is very soft
The water has a lot of chlorine
 
I was using AquaSafe Plus to treat the water before going into the tank with PWC.
I am now using API Tap Water Condition as I heard it is less harmful than Aquasafe Plus on the bacteria for some reason ?
 
I want to fight my 10 gallon tank like right now, throw on the gloves and just go to town kind of thing 

  .