Nitrate readings are ridiculous

[aquabee]

Safe and Prime are both made by Seachem. I've had false Ammonia and Nitrite readings before from using Safe, but never Nitrate.

Same here. I've only had ammonia false reads.

[jughead]

do you think the >100 reading(s) were accurate?how often do you test?

[aquabee]

do you think the >100 reading(s) were accurate?how often do you test?

It's hard to believe they were accurate, without any source for the elevation and with the fish all looking and acting so well. I test usually once a month just to reassure myself. I do 50-75% water changes on the geos tank and 90% on the fronts tank every 7-10 days depending on my work schedule.

[aquabee]

Oh and the drop in nitrate from 40 to 10 ppm overnight without me doing anything to the tank...... Just odd.

[fshfrk]

I shake the nitrate#2 reagent for 2 minutes not the recommended 30 seconds. IJS

[aquabee]

I shake the nitrate#2 reagent for 2 minutes not the recommended 30 seconds. IJS

I think I end up shaking it for like a whole minute cuz I just walk around doing other stuff while shaking the bottle. Why 2 mins John?


"All bleeding stops eventually."

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[SunnyHouTX]

I use Tetra 6-in-1strips now...

[aquabee]

I use Tetra 6-in-1strips now...

Gotta be careful to keep those outta the humidity.


"All bleeding stops eventually."

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[SunnyHouTX]

I just close the cap nice and tight. Works like a charm

[swk]

Those strips are way more convenient. I bought a set when I started up 2 fishless cycles and they sure saved a ton of time.

[Coop]

I've been having a similar problem for months now. I do 50% water changes ever week, don't over feed, far from overstocked, no live plants, etc and I keep getting 100 on nitrates. Fish are as happy as can be and no issues. No fish deaths either. I use prime and stability ever water change to include aquarium salt. I noticed two weeks ago that my filter was barely putting out any water, at least not the normal amount. After looking closely i noticed i had hair algae all in the lines going into and out of the filter. So I did a 70% water change, cleaned all the lines, took filter completely apart and cleaned, replaced the floss filter media, then adjusted lighting timer to only 6 hrs of normal light. Tomorrow or Monday I am going to do a water change so ill see if that helped. Decided to wait an extra week because I cleaned so much and replaced a large amount of water and wanted good bacteria to build up good.

[aquabee]

Hm. Interesting! I wouldn't have thought to check my tubing but I will now!


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[aquabee]

Typically algae sucks up nitrates but if it's dead/dying or not photosynthesizing in the tubing, then it may be producing nitrate.


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[aquabee]

Checked nitrates again today, 4 days post 80% WC... It was 20-30 ppm in the geos tank and 5-10 ppm in the fronts tank. Feedings are once daily only and all food is consumed in 2-3 minutes by the geos and 5 minutes by the fronts. Checked the hoses on the 2260 which is on the geos tank, and they're clear. I'm opening up that gosh darn canister tomorrow. Something is going on and it's really annoying!


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[aquabee]

Opened up that canister, threw away all the filter floss and replaced it with fresh stuff, purigen didn't look that saturated but I still took it out. Rinsed the ceramic noodles and bioballs in tank water and dechlorinated water. Reconnected it without carbon or purigen. Due to time constraints I won't be able to do a WC today but will change out 80% of the water tomorrow and retest nitrates. If this doesn't lower the nitrates...... Then I'm really super stumped.


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