FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hello, I have been using some simple tests strips to test my water quality. Today I went and bought the API Freshwater Master Test Kit and it is saying my NitrAte is at 160. Now I know if it was this high my fish would not be doing well at all. When I check using my strips they say 20. I tested 3 different times and each time it came up the same 160. Now can a liquid test kit go bad if it has been sitting on a shelf to long. I bought the kit at my local PetSmart. Not sure what to do as my strips have always said about 20ppm. Should I take it back and get a different kit or what? I used all the tests and the other ones seemed correct as they were very close to what my strips have been saying. Any ideas, thanks

---

Live life to it's fullest
Who knows what tomorrow holds

---

I would suggest you take a sample of your water to your LFS and have them test it.

Take your newly purchased test kit with you and if their tests are coming up different then you know its a faulty test kit, they should happily exchange or refund you.

Cheers - Crusha

---

Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

Hi,
Take a sample to the LFS and ask them to test it telling
them that you are getting two radically different results.
Generally speaking, the test strips are the ones that are
usually suspect. They can be ruined by moisture, heat, and
light while the AP kit will continue to give good results
for many months when stored as recommended.

How old is the setup in the tank? With a nitrate reading
exceeding 100 (if it is true) it would indicate that you
have what is called Old Tank Syndrome (OTS). It is caused
by lack of tank maintenance and fish that have "grown up"
in it will not exhibit any symptoms, while newly introduced
fish will frequently die within a short time of entry into
the tank.

Here is a link for OTS should your results come back
with very high nitrates:

http://www.bestfish.com/oldtank.html

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Well I doubt it is OTS as the tank has only been up for about 5 months but I have had to tear it down once about 3 1/2 months ago. I do weekly water changes/gravel cleanings and filter cleanings every 2 weeks. I also just added a couple small cories to the tank about 3-4 days ago and they are doing great. I also added a Gourmai about 3 weeks ago and that is also doing fine. I do have another 10g tank but it has been going through a mini-cycle for some reason so I'm not sure if I will good the right results from that tank.

I will try taking a sample to the LFS and see what they come up with.

---

Live life to it's fullest
Who knows what tomorrow holds

---

Ok so I went and got a different test kit. It is the same brand and type but a new one. I brought it home and tested again and got to the same results. The only thing I can think of is it may actually be OTS or I have just done the test wrong. What do you think I should do in this case. I already do weekly water changes of 25-50% and do gravel cleanings and filter cleanings. Am I doing something wrong, all my other levels are right were they should be. Now the test booklet also does state something about freashwater tanks with salt and it says for that this is the correct test kit. I don't add any salt to my tank, should I be? I thought that I wasn't supposed to add any type of salt to the tank as my cories don't care for it much and I don't have any problems with illness. Like I said before, I have added a couple fish to the tank in the last month and they are doing fine. Any ideas what I might be doing wrong, whether it is the tank, cleanings or tests? Thanks

---

Live life to it's fullest
Who knows what tomorrow holds

---

Do you have plants in the tank? They will help with reducing the amount of nitrate. Hornwort (can be messy) or any other floating type of plants are suppose to be excellent for this.

When my nitrates were high I ended up doing more frequent water changes of about 40% every 3rd day for about 2 weeks. That seemed to help.

Also, test your water source (tap water), you may find that there are nitrates present in the water and you may need to buy some kind of water purifier to place on your tap?

Good luck
Crusha

---

Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

I have 2 live sword plants, not sure what type. My water changes are probably closer to about 40% every week but sometimes alittle less/alittle more o I say 25-50%. I have also tested my 10g tank and that is at about 20 but I have no plants in that tank and just a HOB filter. Would CO2 make the NitrAte level high or make the test read high. I have a DIY CO2 2L system setup in the 20g to help the plants and to help lower my pH level some. I also have to add about 96oz of water every other day to my tank the heat evaporates this amount. I have a line of my tank so I know when to fill it. Would this play into any effect?

I did check my tap water about a month ago and the NitrAte was at 0. I live in the country so I have well water but the pH and hardness are pretty high.

Could over feeding make the NitrAte levels go high. I try not to overfeed but I might be as at night I tend to put in Algae wafers or Shrinking Shrimp Pellets for the Cories in the tank. I know when I get up in the mornings that it is gone but maybe I am not seeing it all. Below are the rest of my water prams.

NitrIte - 0
NitrAte - Test says 160
Ammonia - .25
pH - 7.8
General Hardness - 300
Alkalinity - 300
Temp - 76-78d F

I don't have any problems with Algae or illness.

So should I start doing a 30% water change every other day until the levels drop or is there something else to do? Thanks again for the help

---

Live life to it's fullest
Who knows what tomorrow holds

---

Overfeeding does play a big factor in high nitrates. How often do you feed - both morning and nights? Perhaps try cutting down on the feeding and you can even miss a day until the levels drop.

Water changes are the only way to reduce nitrates unfortunately. Gravel vac when you do these but only a section of the tank at a time so your good bacteria is always present.

Do you have many ornaments, rocks, etc. Do you move them to gravel vac in the spots where they are? If you dont then maybe this could be a contributor as well.

As for the CO2, I dont use it so someone else will be able to help you with that. Perhaps putting more plants in the tank will also help.

---

Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

I usally do gravel cleanings every week when I do the water changes. I do not move the decor around as I have a RUGF that seems to push most of the gunk up. The HOB then sucks it out of the tank. Also the Cories seem to do a pretty good job of getting most of the foods off the bottom. I feed 2x a day. Once in the morning usally just some flakes, then in the night I feed some flakes and some Algae Wafrers or Shrimp Pellets and they are gone by mornings. I also skip feeding on Saturdays as I do water changes on Sunday. I then resume feeding on Monday. I do sometimes drop a pellet or wafer in though on Sunday night for the cories.

Another thing when I am reading the test am I supposed to put the glass tube right on the card or should I hold it alittle away from it? I have noticed that when I hold the tube right against the card it seems darker then when I hold it alittle away from the card. I use a small desk lamp to look at the tubes that way I have a direct and bright enough light to see the results.

---

Live life to it's fullest
Who knows what tomorrow holds

---