Nitrates

[jo_85]

My tank went into the final stage of the cycle the day after I last posted. I finally got nitrites processing in 12 hours. I tested for 3 days to be sure before stocking up my tank. The thing that is confusing me is the nitrates. They were 20ppm when I tested a couple of days ago so completed a big water change to get them down to 5-10ppm. I tested my water last night and my nitrates were still at 10ppm so left the tank alone. I have just tested again tonight (thinking another water change would be needed) and they have dropped to more or less 0ppm. How is this possible? I thought that the only way to remove nitrates was through water changes.
Thanks
Joanne

 

[Gilli]

Do you have live plants in the tank? If so they will be using up the small amounts of nitrate you have.

 

[anon02]

What test kit are you using ? If it`s the API, read and follow the instructions for nitrate, paying special attention to the timings and shakings lol

 

[jo_85]

Yes i have plants in my tank. I follow the instructions to the letter, Shaking bottle 2 for 30 secs and the test tube for 1 minute. Guess my plants are eating it up, not complaining though!

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Yes i have plants in my tank. I follow the instructions to the letter, Shaking bottle 2 for 30 secs and the test tube for 1 minute. Guess my plants are eating it up, not complaining though!

Good morning Jo... i suffered the same problem last week regarding low NitrAte readings when i was expecting them to be quite high.

Ensure you 'bang' NitrAte test bottle 2 for AT LEAST 30 secs.... and i don't mean tap it either. Give it a couple of dozen of good, thorough bangs onto a hard surface (i use the back of my cycle diary so as not to mark any of our work surfaces).

Hope this helps, Terry.

 

[anon02]

Once you`ve got all the sediment back into solution you can ease up on the banging and just shake