Plants And Nitrates

[JenCliBee]

I am using test strips.

Then this could be your biggest problem... basically test strips are next to useless when it comes to testing things, the inaccuracy is beyond anything you could imagine.

I personally would suggest you take a water sample to your lfs and ask them to test it with a liquid based kit or by an api liquid test kit yourself... you may be very surprised at the result once tested

 

[Chad]

I have found that Salifert and Elos are the brands I trust. I have also experienced bad results from other brands. I know they were bad because I compared them to more reliable methods and found them to be off.

I also agree with the above that anubius is a good low tech starter plant.