Reducing Nitrates?

[locust267]

Hi all, I'm cycling my tank at the moment and just wondering where the Nitrates are going as I thought they could only be removed by W/C or plants (no plants in my tank).

I know my testing could be wrong, but I've followed the tests exactly for the past few years and never had problems before.

On Tuesday the tank measured 15ppm, Wednesday 7.5ppm and today 5ppm. My tap water measures 10ppm and I've checked this a couple of times.

Nitrites are still showing off the scale so I was testing Nitrates to see if they were starting to creep up, and instead I've been confused by their decline

Cheers

 

[CezzaXV]

Are you using a liquid test kit? I got the same thig and found it was with the test. Try bashing and shaking the hell out of bottle number two, worked for me.

 

[the_lock_man]

I would also expect that to be an inaccurate test result. The API one can be a bit iffy, apparently. On an ongoing basis, nitrate isn't too much of a problem until it gets 100+ppm, and assuming you're changing water every week, it won't get that far.

 

[locust267]

Yes, its the API kit, and i've tried bashing bottle two, lol.

The only reason I am testing for no3 at the moment is because I want to see if any nitrite is being processed as the no2 is way off the scale.

 

[Mowbz]

The API Nitrate Test bottle 2 contains a powdered reagent that separates, hence the need to beat up the bottle. It settles like sand in the bottom and goes hard unles you really bash the bottle about. Had this issue myself.

Try bashing the bottom of the bottle on anything but the tank a few times, and then a real good shake, and you should be fine

 

[locust267]

Tried again this morning, really bashing the bottle more than before, back to 7.5 but its still lower than tap water which measures 10

 

[StandbySetting]

If you have nitrite present then this can cause bogus readings.

 

[raptorrex]

If you have nitrite present then this can cause bogus readings.

salient point here!