what does it mean if there is no nitrate?

[panboy]

I dont think this is normal, but when I measure my nitrate, there is none.

I have had the tank cycled since march, and since like may once it was pretty established i stopped measuring.

I keep quite a few plants, add fertilizer and co2.

i measure my ammonia and nitrite too to make sure id didnt uncycle, but those are completely zero too.

any ideas? lol im completely confused

 

[Phantom Thief]

Sounds like the plants are taking up all the nitrates.

P.T.

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

I don't think having a zero count is a bad thing. In fact, mine also show zero the majority of the time. I just add plant food for the plants.

I think it indicates that you do have an established tank, and that the balance between waste and waste production is comparable to breakdown and usage by the organisms in your tank.

Don't worry too much.

 

[CFC]

IMO it is actually more likely that your test kit is giving a false reading, nitrate is the most difficult to get right of all the aquariums tests and once opened even the best nitrate tests have a quite limited lifespan.
What brand and type of test did you use? For true accurate readings the best kits to use are the liquid ones which require carefully measured water samples and attention paid to the instructions. If after testing with a newly opened good quality liquid test kit the readings are still zero then the only answer can be that the plants have used up all the available nitrate but this is highly unusual in anything but specialist dutch style planted aquariums.