Zero nitrate in established tank?

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shawnhu

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Oct 31, 2008
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To test the kit, just urinate in the ammonia test tube, and see if any ammonia show up. If none does, your kit may be bad.

I also think that a turtle usually produces a lot of waste, even for a 30G. API's test shows 5ppm Nitrate as a first indicator. If you shut off the lights for 2 days, and then re-test, you should get nitrates since the algae can't use the nitrates without light.
 

cellodaisy

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Jan 11, 2009
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meganstrickland.com
I shook bottle #2 quite thoroughly.

I'm not worried about the ammonia test---it showed nonzero readings when I was setting up the tank and it did not come from the same source as the nitrite/nitrate test (though all are API). I'd love to try the blackout test, but I have to keep lights on for my turtle's health. I suppose I could move the feeders to the 5g and test that---essentially start a fish-in cycle, but move them back to the main tank if the readings get bad.
 
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