nitrates question

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wigglejaggles

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Oct 26, 2003
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hey now,

My tank is about six months old now. I just did water tests, and ammonia read in the .5 to 1.0ppm range
nitrite 0ppm
nitrate 0ppm
PH 7.2
KH 53.7 ppm
GH 107.4ppm

now i am getting scared because i thought my tank was cycled a long time ago. And for the ammonia reading I figure it was due to my 30% water change I did this afternoon. I use biosafe dechlorinator, and I have the regular aquarium pharm. test kit. So I am hoping the test kit is reading the ammonia from the dechlorinator.

But shouldn't their be even 5ppm nitrates?? Since I have been home form college i do three to four 30-40% water changes a week on my ten gallon.

I just don't understand why I don't read nitrates. My honey gourami has also lost all its color and its belly is bloated. Still acts normal and eats fine. I hope its not an ammonia issue.

If anyone can help I would appreciate it. its a 10 gallon...i run an aquaclear 200.

take care,
jared
 
Last edited:
hello,

My tank was fully cycled.

I just did a test. I tested for ammonia using straight up tap water. It read 0

Then I tested for ammonia using treated water that has been in a bucket all day. and the ammonia read off the charts. So it is the biosafe.

Now that would answer why I am reading ammonia in my tank. But...I am scared that i am not reading any nitrates. Tank is still 0 for nitrites which is a good thing. One would think I am at the start of another cycle??
I just dont see how that is possible when the tank is six months old.

Words of wisdom were laid on me long ago....you can never do too many water changes as long as you dont change out more than 50% at once, and their hasnt been a lapse in water changes over a long period of time.
I don't believe changing 30-40% of water three times a week is a problem at all.

But if someone could please help me out regarding the zero nitrates reading. Could it be that i am starting a cycle over again?

take care,
jared
 
If you say undetectable nitrates you may feel more comfortable with the test results. I promise you the hobby test kits reporting zero do not mean that there are no nitrates present, only that they are below the detection threshold for the kit.

With your water change schedule I would not expect to see hobby kit detectable nitrate. If you want to invest in Hach/LaMotte low-range nitrate kits you will still be able to read the leves that are there.

If you have chloramines in your water supply and are using an agent to neutralize these, the ammonia test kit must be salicylate-based, not Nessler's reagent based, or you will get false positives for low levels of ammonia. If the test kit requires multiple reagent additions, it is likely salicylate. If it is single-reagent, it is not and likely Nessler's based - get a different kit, compatible with the neuttralization reagents used.

BTW, I whole-heartedly agree that it is not possible to change too much water. Anyone who disputes that does not understand the chemistry involved or the differences between a capitive, closed system and natural waters.
 
Last edited:
thanks

Thank you RTR for hopping in,

You do ease my mind regarding the zero nitrates issue.

My ammonia test is the aquarium pharm. must be nesslar's based. U just pop 8 drops of it into a 5mil. sample of water...shake it up...and whallah...
So I am off today to get a salycilate based test kit! It's driving me nuts getting these false ammonia positives. Especially when I am afraid their IS something wrong in my tank.

thanks again!

take care,
Jared
 
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