Nitrates

3 posts

Discuss all topics related to freshwater and planted tanks.


DanDman18
 
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:56 am

Nitrates

by DanDman18

I know this sounds like a beginner question, but i am very confused about it. I tested my water last week when my power was out, and everything was perfect, pH-8.2 Ammonia-0 nitite-0, however the nitrate was 120ppm. I couldn't do a water change because i had no power, and just had to hope they would live, i then did tests every day since and every day it dropped by 20ppm, today i got power back and was going to do a water change but when i tested it again it said that the nitrates are 0. I thought the only way to reduce nitrates is from water changes, or live plants, i didn't do any water changes, and besides for algae in my tank no plants. So what i am asking is why did my nitrates drop so suddenly?


natalie265
Site Admin
 
Posts: 746
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:48 pm

by natalie265

I'm wondering if there is something wrong with your test kit. It doesn't make sense to me either.


DanDman18
 
Posts: 115
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:56 am

by DanDman18

I don't know, i just retested the tank 4 times, with different test bottles and two said about 30-40ppm while the other two said about 20-30ppm, while this morning it was 0 all 4 times. I have the API freshwater test kit, but the biggest thing i hate about it is the 10 and 20ppm for nitrate look the same, as does the 40 and 80. So when it is that color i guess you assume its between them, but i like knowing exactly.

Nitrates

3 posts

Display posts from previous: Sort by: