Do I actually need a nitrate test kit if I test ammonia and nitrites? Doesn't ammonia + nitrites = nitrates?
Nitrate test kit
- Thread starter captmicha
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In a well established tank the only thing you should have a reading for is Nitrates, as it is the END product of the cycling process. You remove them through regular water changes. I do recommend you get a test kit that can test for all 3 if you can. It is better to know than not. In an aquarium, unfortunetly, ignorance is not bliss.
Its more like ammonia > nitrite > nitrate. Not + and = .
And something like...
ammonia / bacteria > nitrite / bacteria > nitrate / water change
Thats probably a completely(technically) messed up way of putting it. But thats the best I know how to explain it.
If your cycling.
Test your tap water for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. Basically any test kit you have. Use it on your tap water. Just so you know if there's anything in it already.
Now that you know all of that.
Test for ammonia and nitrite. Once you see nitrite, start testing for nitrate.
Once you see only nitrate. You can do random test for ammonia and nitrite, just for reassurance. They should always be zero.
Most of us probably don't bother with ammonia and nitrite testing until we're seeing something not right. IE fish tapping on the glass, with the :uhoh: look.
Or adding new fish. Changing the tank around. As in, I took out a castle, 5 fake plants, a terra cotta pot and put in one sword plant, today. This would be a good time to monitor ammonia and nitrite for a few days.
Hope that helps.
Nitrate won't do anything bad, except to possibly contribute to an algae bloom. The reason to test for nitrates is that they are a good measure of overall water quality and when you should do a water change. This is simply because the rate at which nitrates build up goes up with more fish, and down with more water and more plants. The things that contribute bad things to the water make more nitrates, and the things that contribute good make nitrates go down. So, the more fish you have, the more frequently you'll have to do water changes, and the more water and/or plants you have, the less frequently you'll have to do water changes, and nitrates will vary accordingly.
To make it short, when nitrates get to about 30 or 40, you need to do a water change.
To make it short, when nitrates get to about 30 or 40, you need to do a water change.
I'm not arguing or anything but if I test for ammonia and nitrites and get back results stating that I have unsafe levels, isn't it safe to just assume that I have nitrates?
What test brand is best for Nitrates? API? I can't find any Nitrate test kits local. Isn't that odd?
API seems to be the preferred brand that most go with, as posted, once the tank gets well established and the more familiar one gets, testing usually only needs to be done if there is some kind of problem, but it is a good idea to have all three, i usually test every few months, my rates are around 20 or so. 2 wc's a week...
even if your ammonia and nitrite are at safe levels you're gonna have nitrate. all of the decomposing material in your tank become nitrate. and you're prob always gonna have it unless you have a bunch of plants to use them up. to be honest if you're doing frequent water changes you're removing waste (as long as there isn't any in your tap water) and will prob never need your test kit. nitrate tests become much more important when you're dealing with plants as you need to have nitrate, phosphate and potassium (as well as some other trace nutirents) or if you're trying to figure out your algae prob.
a nitrate test could surprise you. i bought mine and found that my nitrates were around 80ppm (not very healthy for fish). so i started doing water changes to bring them down but wasnt getting anywhere. i tested my tap water and found that it was out at between 40-80ppm (i have well water and live next to a farm)
my honest opinion... you should have test kits to monitor every aspect of your tank. i think that it is very important to know exactly what is going on inside of your tank. and then when there is a problem, a solution is easier to find.
oh yeah, i use api
a nitrate test could surprise you. i bought mine and found that my nitrates were around 80ppm (not very healthy for fish). so i started doing water changes to bring them down but wasnt getting anywhere. i tested my tap water and found that it was out at between 40-80ppm (i have well water and live next to a farm)
my honest opinion... you should have test kits to monitor every aspect of your tank. i think that it is very important to know exactly what is going on inside of your tank. and then when there is a problem, a solution is easier to find.
oh yeah, i use api
nope.
Especially if your just starting the tank.
You won't have nitrates until you have the bacteria converting the nitrites to nitrates. Unless you already have nitrate in the tap water.
You can have something amiss, and show all 3.
Once you get everything running good. As in no ammonia or nitrite. Then, without plants, its assumeable that you would have nitrates.
And yes, once you get up and running, and not adding any more fish etc. You'll be able to tell how much/many water changes you need to make. And can cut way back on testing for nitrates.
Once you start seeing consistant numbers. Because its the same fish(just a little bigger) recieving the same amout of food, etc. You'll get to where your comfortable with longer intervals between test. And only test every couple of months.
My tank has been up and running for years now. And I put a lot of plants in recently. But I'll invest in a Nitrate kit anyways. That's a good idea to have a test for every aspect.
in a planted tank you can bottom out on nitrates. if you have no nitrates but some phosphates it can cause algae problems. and vice versa. in a well balanced planted aquarium a good goal to have it N(10ppm) - P(1ppm) - K(20ppm). how much lighting do you have?