Nitrogen Cycle

[lemond68]

So I have cycled my tank (I believe I have since I have several days with no ammonia and nitrite); however, my nitrate level is never 0 ppm. It hovers around 10 ppm. I have done multiple 25% water changes and yet it never quite goes away.

I know that this is the end of the oxidization of NH3/NH4+ and that it is not as toxic as nitrite, but how do I get rid of it. My tank is relatively new (3 weeks) and my fish seem well. Can I live with the nitrate at low levels or does that indicate some problem with the tank. I do try to feed miniscule amounts to minimize waste and such...

 

[trace1]

hi
nitrAtes at 10ppm is fine infact as long as you try to keep it below 40ppm thats fine as well the only time it becomes a problem is if it goes very high, there will always be nitrAtes in your tank it shows that it has plenty of good bacteria in there so yeah you are fully cycled go get your fishys