Can't get nitrates to register

[binnesman]

Please bear with me...I'm new to aquatic plants (though not fishkeeping) and have been scouring this board for information (great stuff btw).

My setup is about three to four weeks up. 75g, 190wpg substrate of flourite and gravel, emperor 400 and rena xp3. Fish load: 5 ottos, 5 goldfish (approx 1 1/2 inches not including fins) and one rubber lip pleco.

Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate 0. PH 7.6-7.8. These numbers have not changed the whole time. I have several bunches of anacharis, hornwort, h. difformis, several swords, java ferns, and two crypts. This past week I started getting some green and brown algaes. Plant growth has been ok on the fast growers, but not noticeable on the swords, ferns and crypts. BTW, have been using flourish liquid and tabs.

I thought by adding some nitrate I might get the plants to grow a bit better. I added one tsp of KNO3 yesterday. Today, nitrate still zero. How often should I dose to get this level up? And why am I getting brown algae with this light level? Do I need still more wattage? Any other comments/suggestions?

Thanks for your input (and your patience!) .
Dan

[Timmain42]

Have you tried a newly purchased NitrAte test yet? Your old one may have bitten the dust.

Brown algae is common for new plant tanks, it won't last long after the plants take off.

And 190/75=2.53r WPG at least (not counting water displacement) so you should be GTG on the lights... in fact, that is considered "high light." You may want to consider CO2.

Oh and welcome to the slight insanity that is... PLANT TANKS.

[djlen]

Diatoms are typical for newly set up tanks. Keep it healthy and they will decline eventually. Oto's will eat it as well as glass algae.
IMO, you should be seeing signs of N in your tank with 1tsp. I would put 1/4tsp. or so in a glass of water and test it. Sounds like you may have a bad test kit. I dose 3/4tsp. at water change and get close to 15ppm. Something's amiss. With gold fish I would think you'd be seeing at least traces of N even without dosing.
Your swords, ferns, and Crypts will take a while to get going. They are all slow starters.

Len

[binnesman]

The test kit is a brand new AP. Who knows how long it was sitting on the shelf, though. :)

And, yes, I am considering CO2. I can't possibly get this by my DW after all I've spent on this 'hobby' in the last few weeks. I'll probably make a DIY on my next free weekend. I can spare the ten bucks or so (I think). :)

[binnesman]

Thanks Len. I'm off to test the test kit.

Dan

[binnesman]

The test results are in. Time for a new new test kit. Who knows what the level of NO3 is by now! I'm off to the lfs (sigh). I'll post again when I get a working test.

Dan

[geoffgarcia]

binn, take a water sample with you and have the LFS test your water to see if it coincides with your findings, no point in wasting money on a new kit if you dont need to

[binnesman]

I just got back from the lfs and checked the nitrate: 5ppm. I did take a sample of the water with me, and it registered the same (thanks Geoff). I'm glad finally to get some accurate results. I can't believe a brand new test kit had bad chemicals in it. Oh well.

Should I dose again to get the level up to 10ppm, or maybe let it go a couple days and see if it comes up on its own?

[djlen]

You could dose another 1/2tsp. and check in an hour or so. Try to keep 10ppm in the tank. Dose at water change and check at mid-week or content.
Depending on plant mass, you want to keep 1.0 - 1.5ppm/P in the tank as well.

Len