Amm/Nitrite=0, How up Nitrates?

[sm100378]

Hi,

Right now I am at
Ammonia - 0.00
Nitrite - 0.00
Nitrate - 7.00

My ammonia and nitrite's have been at 0.00 for two days. What can I do to increase the nitrate level? I do add ammonia after each testing in the evening.

Thanks!
:help:

 

[southpaw]

Be sure it is actually 7 and not some super high number giving you a false test reading.


The method below is assuming you are using a liquid test kit...but could also work with strips I guess

Try taking a test with like 1 part tank water and 9 parts tap water...just fill the tube up to the mark 1 time for the tank and 9 times from the tap and pour it into a bowl and test the mixture....then multiple the reading by 10 and it will give you a pretty good guess at where the nitrates are if they are super high.

This may not be the case and your nitrates might really be low...but sometimes the colors on the tests can be alittle confussing.

 

[wataugachicken]

why do you want to increase the nitrate level?
have you tested your tap water for nitrate?
do you have plants in the tank?

 

[sm100378]

Hi,

I have the API Freshwater test kit. The color that I am getting is a light brown, and when I match it too the card it looks like the 10 data. I wish it was darker so that I could reflect a higher number.


Any suggestions?

Thanks!
SM

Be sure it is actually 7 and not some super high number giving you a false test reading.


The method below is assuming you are using a liquid test kit...but could also work with strips I guess

Try taking a test with like 1 part tank water and 9 parts tap water...just fill the tube up to the mark 1 time for the tank and 9 times from the tap and pour it into a bowl and test the mixture....then multiple the reading by 10 and it will give you a pretty good guess at where the nitrates are if they are super high.

This may not be the case and your nitrates might really be low...but sometimes the colors on the tests can be alittle confussing.

 

[southpaw]

Try my method I described.... couldnt hurt...just to be sure.

 

[wataugachicken]

brown, huh? that's not really normal. it may certainly be off the charts if you've been cycling for a long time. did you try southpaws 9:1 test yet?

 

[sm100378]

I have artificial plants, but have been reading that my nitrates need to be 20ish for a complete cycle.


Thanks,
SM

why do you want to increase the nitrate level?
have you tested your tap water for nitrate?
do you have plants in the tank?

 

[southpaw]

I have artificial plants, but have been reading that my nitrates need to be 20ish for a complete cycle.


Thanks,
SM

Yes you want them around 20 before adding fish.... but if you are getting a false reading they could be over the 160 that the chart max's out at

 

[southpaw]

To be around 20ppm the color should be a shade of orange not brown

 

[wataugachicken]

when you have fish in the tank, you do weekly water changes to keep nitrates under 20ppm. when you are doing a fishless cycle and adding ammonia daily, nitrates can build up to high levels very quickly. there is no specific amount of nitrates that need to be present for the tank to cycle - all you need is that when you add ammonia to the tank, both the ammonia and nitrites are gone by the same time the next day (or faster), and that nitrates are present in testable amounts.

now that your tank is cycled, with 0 ammo, 0 trites, and readable trates (more than 0), you have to find out exactly how much nitrate is in the water using southpaw's method, and do enough large water changes to get nitrates down to an acceptable level for new fish. so if it turns out that you have 200ppm nitrates (just an example), you would have to do at least 2 75% or 4 50% water changes to get the nitrates down under 15-20ppm.