0 ammon. 0 nitrite. 0 nitrate. after 1 week!

[eylk]

sorry for the late reply.. I just came back from camp...

The tank is a 20 gallon tank. with 4 guppies, 1 betta, 9 cardinals and 1 albino shark.

At first it was the ammonia levels started to rise and then it became zero, that took about 1 month, I think.

Then the nitrites can in.. However, in the next week or so the nitrites became zero. This is the suspicious part...

Henceforth, all the tests that I do - on ammonia, nitrite and nitrate will give me zero on all readings.
I even tried going 1 whole week without grav vac-ing or PWCs.. the results were the same!

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As for shaking the bottle.. I think I will try that out.... with a vengeance now..

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What I do not understand is :

If the tank is cycled , there should be nitrates!

If the tank is NOT cycled, there should be ammonia or nitrites!

It can be a zero on all 3 !

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Thanks !

 

[root81]

I'd say try a new test kit, and make sure you shake the solution well, and follow the instructions to the letter. If you still get all 0's, take a sample to your LFS, and have them test it for you, and get the numbers, not just an OK.

If they agree with your 0's, then I'd say congradulations, it's taken me a year to get the carbon and lighting just right to maintain a 0 count. because of my water source, the nitrate actually registers only for about 12 hours after I do a water change... the plants love the natural fertilizer!

 

[eylk]

hahah i found the solution to the problem!

Thanks for all of ur suggestions ... I found it rather lame that i actually didnt shake the bottle hard enuff since i was about to buy a new testkit and/or restart the cycle..

thanks jrh and kimmisc!