Nitrate readings are ridiculous

[aquabee]

Ok. So I know Chris posted something similar yesterday, but I have a similar dilemma. Prior to doing 90% water changes (routine) on both the fronts tank and the geos tank today, I tested nitrate. It has been 10 days since I've changed water in either tank. Both are long and well-established, well-filtered tanks that are far from over-stocked. The fronts tank read 10 ppm before and after WC, and the geos tank read 160 ppm prior to the WC and 100 ppm after. I went and bought a new API kit with a 2018 expiration date. Same readings. I didn't use my finger to top the glass tubes and I shook the reagents at least 30 seconds before adding them.

I should mention that all fish/snails are accounted for. No one's dead. Canisters and HOBs have been cleaned out in the past 5 weeks. Purigen was recharged at that time for the geos tank. No carbon in either tank. Difference between the geos tank and fronts tank: purigen and plants (geos have those, plants are one anubias and one bolbitis). Temps are te same in both tanks.

I should mention that I always double-dose Safe and dose Stability post-WC. All fish are acting fine-- not breathing hard, active, colorful, eating, and no one has reddened inflamed gills.

HELP. I know Safe gives weird ammonia readings, but nitrate???

[aquabee]

Oh and I do run my new water through a DIY carbon thing that is less than 2 months old.

[danielp]

I'm starting to think this spike is tied to the current rise in temperature.

We need to be careful I would imagine that the water plants will be heavily dozing their systems soon. We typically see this this time of the year.

[sunkenmetal]

I agree with Daniel. The muds are messing with the water.

[SunnyHouTX]

I think y'all missed the part with the two vastly varied readings between the two tanks. I think it's something specific to the 105 that's causing a high baseline reading which is not being reduced by a WC.

[aquabee]

Exactly. And if the readings are correct, then why aren't the geos panting and gasping and suffering those nitrate levels of >100 ppm??

[algarciajr]

How about doing another large water change on the 105 to try and bring the nitrate levels down some more.

[jughead]

If your fish are healthy and the tank looks good,throw away the test kit

[algarciajr]

Are you using an API Nitrate test kit? If so, the highest reading measurable by that kit is 160 ppm, so your actual measurement could have been a lot higher than that before the water change.

Exactly. And if the readings are correct, then why aren't the geos panting and gasping and suffering those nitrate levels of >100 ppm??

[nightster]

Which tank did you do first?

[aquabee]

If your fish are healthy and the tank looks good,throw away the test kit

I did! And I bought another one brand new and it's giving me the same readings!

[aquabee]

Which tank did you do first?

The fronts tank.

[aquabee]

Alfonso, it just doesn't make sense. I don't believe the nitrates are this high without affecting the fish at ALL! So I don't wanna do another water change if this isn't a true reading, ya know?

[aquabee]

Ok so I tested readings this morning. Fronts tank: nitrates are basically the same. Geos tank: nitrates down from 100+ ppm down to just a little less than 40 ppm. WTF! Tested my plain tap water this morning and nitrates are at 10 ppm. Not bad.

I'm thinking what if my batch of Safe went bad? Humidity or heat or keeping it in a different container or whatever. I'm doing another WC on the geos right now, another 50%, and I'll treat the new water with regular Prime from the bottle. We'll see what happens! Good thing I'm off work these days so I actually have time to do some trial and error work! :)

[SunnyHouTX]

If you're safe "went bad" mine should have too?