bdayton3522 Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 Looking for some advice. I can't seem to keep any nitrates in my tank. All levels are at 0, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Specs below for what I am running. 50 Gallon bow front Community tank. Mollies, Guppies, Gourami, Rummy Nose Tetras, Clown Pleco, and a few snails. The Mollies and Guppies have produced well over 100 frye in the last few weeks. Separated them to grow out tank. Tidal 55 (Throttled back to about 50%) Hygger programable LED light (On about 8 hours a day) Sponge filter that runs at night when the lights shut off. I do have city water but treat with water conditioner and test for chlorine during water changes. Introduced Easy Green about 4 weeks ago. Have been dosing per the instructions 2 to 3 times a week to get the nitrates up. And they remain at 0. No Co², gravel substrate with root tabs What am I doing wrong? Plants are still growing, very slowly. Ferns have sprouted several new rye zones. Variety of ferns, amazon sword, anubias, and a couple banana plants. I have tried a couple different floating plants but they have died. Also tried a few carpeting plants. Between the lack of growth and the Mollies, no luck. Help! Please and thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 On 10/27/2022 at 4:45 PM, Pepere said: What are you using to test your water? Exactly what I was going to ask lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllFishNoBrakes Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 When I was brand new to the hobby I was using the API test kit and wasn’t following all the instructions. I too thought I had 0 nitrates, and then when I actually followed the directions I was well over 80, lol. That would be my first piece of advice without further information: follow the test kit instructions to the letter for accurate results Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwcarlson Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 I expected to see a heavily planted tank, I've got two that I can't keep much for nitrates in. But I would guess as those above have stated - the test method might be at fault here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdayton3522 Posted October 27, 2022 Author Share Posted October 27, 2022 On 10/27/2022 at 4:45 PM, Pepere said: What are you using to test your water? I use a API master kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllFishNoBrakes Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 On 10/27/2022 at 3:27 PM, Pepere said: In any event, with the nitrate test, are you putting 10 drops of bottle 1 and then shaking the capped test tube for 10 seconds, then shaking bottle 2 vigorously for 30 seconds before addin 10 drops and then vigorously shaking the capped test tube for 1 minute and then waiting 5 minutes to read the test? And using a clockwith a sweep second hand or a countdown timer or some such to confirm correct timing? Exactly this. 10 drops of bottle one, cap the tube, and turn it over a couple of times. Shake bottle 2 for 30 seconds, HARD. Add 10 drops bottle 2 to test tube. Shake test tube vigorously for 1 minute. Let stand for 5 minutes and compare to chart. I use the stopwatch/timer function on my phone to make sure I’m hitting all these marks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishoutawater Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 On 10/28/2022 at 8:19 AM, bdayton3522 said: I use a API master kit. The api kits are basically useless. They throw false numbers all the time and if anyone can tell 40ppm from 80ppm or 160 ppm nitrate they have super eyes. Get some co op test strips for a quicker easier and more accurate test. Or if you want better resolution the salifert test kits are reasonably priced and spot on accurate without shaking a bottle for 20 mins first. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdayton3522 Posted October 27, 2022 Author Share Posted October 27, 2022 On 10/27/2022 at 5:31 PM, AllFishNoBrakes said: Exactly this. 10 drops of bottle one, cap the tube, and turn it over a couple of times. Shake bottle 2 for 30 seconds, HARD. Add 10 drops bottle 2 to test tube. Shake test tube vigorously for 1 minute. Let stand for 5 minutes and compare to chart. I use the stopwatch/timer function on my phone to make sure I’m hitting all these marks. Well that problem is solved! Wasn't doing it quite right. Whoops. Reading around the 40 ppm mark. Any idea why the floating plants have all died? Red rood floaters and water lettuce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 Floaters hate flow. If they’re getting blown around they will suffer. They are also probably getting nibbled on by your livebearers as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllFishNoBrakes Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 Agreed. Red Root Floaters especially hate flow. Water lettuce crushed for me, and RRF does well in one of my tanks. Salvinia has been pretty bulletproof for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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