Is This Normal?

[paulnwgb]

Hi

I have my first tank - I added my fish (full load) on the 20th Dec after a 6 week fishless cycle. I also decided (quite late on) to go the planted route, so I planted it and added a CO2 system on the 24th. I also added a half dose of TPN. I was planning to do my first water change today, but am confused by my test results (API Liquid):

pH: 7.0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

What happened to the nitrates? My tap water has 10ppm so how can nitrate be zero?

Is this a good thing? Should I do a water change as planned or leave well alone?

Thanks and Happy New Year!

 

[Aqua Tom]

The plants have used your tapwaters nitrates as food.

 

[Uriel]

Yeah as tom said the plants are using the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate faster than the fish can produce them. This is probably helped by you having CO2. You still need to do water changes to remove things like dissolved solids and other things test kit won't show up and also to refresh trace elements that your plants will need. Just means you have a well balance micro enviroment.

 

[paulnwgb]

Great - thanks!