Nitrate spike....

[AndrewMack]

Last week I added a fluval 305 to my 45 and started using a Seachem-Cichlid trace additive. Sense then my nitrates have hit 40ppm every other day that I do not do a 50% WC. does anyone know if that cichlid trace can raise the nitrate?

[Omega]

Get a bucket of tap water and test the nitrates.

Then, add the additive and test the nitrates again.

It could be either those or you have a faulty test kit maybe?

[AndrewMack]

good idea... but i only have 3 test strips left. so it will have to wait, ill just keep up with the water changes. gunna buy a liquid kit next

[Omega]

good idea... but i only have 3 test strips left. so it will have to wait, ill just keep up with the water changes. gunna buy a liquid kit nextSounds like a plan.

In the meantime I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[jm1212]

it could be the method you are using. test strips are notorious for being unreliable.

hurry and go use the last three on one bucket of water and claim you were "clarifying test results" so you can go get a Master Test Kit :D

[YoFishboy]

good idea... but i only have 3 test strips left. so it will have to wait, ill just keep up with the water changes. gunna buy a liquid kit next

That could be part of it....IMO test strips are not nearly as reliable, in that they can be affected easily by age and environment....and many additives can affect readings as well.

[AndrewMack]

ok, it just didnt make sense to me. If i add two cap fulls of this additive, and then have to do a 50% water change, its kind of difeating the purpose of the additive all together. should just add 1cap and no water change lol

[donfenk]

Get an acurate test kit and check again.

your tank is slightly overstocked so you will have to do weekly water changes of 50% and Nitrate levels will still probably hit 30-40 between changes.

[Mr.Firemouth]

I have kept and bred cichlids for 25 years.
There is no reason to use this product...
http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/CichlidTrace.html

If your tap water is low in pH you should run it thru a bed of crushed coral.
You can do this by filling a bucket and letting a bag of it sit overnite or you can use a filtration canister and run a bag of coral in that and fill a rubbermaid trash can and let that sit overnite w/bag.

For hardness and ph value adjustments with chemicals I would recommend the salts Seachem uses instead.

You should also always know what your tap water parameters are befor using it. Test for...
pH
KH/GH hardness
Nitrates
Phosphates

If nitrates and phosphates are high then you need another water source.
If GH/KH or pH is low then you will need the buffers to stabilize it at a higher value.

You can also add aragonite substrates from Carib-Sea specifically designed for African Cichlids.

Please test the tap water and replace the test kits and then post back your results. A system as small as yours should not be able to raise nitrates that fast between water changes. It should take over a week to rebound that high.

[boofish2]

I had asked you in chat if your test materials were up to par. . . hmmmm, I wouldn't really trust the strip tests very much as stated by pps. Try the liquid test and keep us posted, hope it was just the strip....