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mrlimpet![]() Hobbyist Posts: 52 Kudos: 57 Votes: 3 Registered: 11-Dec-2004 ![]() ![]() | Hello again... I am cycling my 20 gallon marine tank with live rock. First I had high ammonia, then high nitites. I came home from Christmas vacation, and the nitrite levels are zero! Here's the odd part, so are the the Nitrate levels...0. Last week, the were about 10 mg/ml...Is that cool? I expected them to go up, then have to do a hug water change. Any thoughts? Ed |
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dthurs![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4340 Kudos: 4170 Votes: 529 Registered: 18-Feb-2003 ![]() ![]() | There could be a problem with your test kit. Take a sample to your LFS and have them test it. Another option is if you have a DSB (Deep Sand Bed) it could already be converting nitrates to nitrogen. Look for bubbles in the sand. If you have a LOT of live rock, you could also be converting nitrate to nitrogen. But I would start with checking the test kit. Dan |
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mrlimpet![]() Hobbyist Posts: 52 Kudos: 57 Votes: 3 Registered: 11-Dec-2004 ![]() ![]() | Thanks....I'm going to take a sample to the shop. I have about 15 lbs of live rock in the 20 gallon tank, about two inches of coral sand substrate, (the kind that comes "live" in a bag) I also used Cycle to kick start the process...It's been almost three weeks since I started all of this... Ed |
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dthurs![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4340 Kudos: 4170 Votes: 529 Registered: 18-Feb-2003 ![]() ![]() | It is possible that your converting nitrates, but it would be a bit soon, unless you had good live sand. But as I said, it's a good idea to verify your test kit. It should have shown atleast a little, around 5 or so. My tests always show a very slight pink color, and I have 125+ pounds of LR and 150 pounds of sand. Dan |
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mrlimpet![]() Hobbyist Posts: 52 Kudos: 57 Votes: 3 Registered: 11-Dec-2004 ![]() ![]() | I just ran another nitrate test, and I thought that I had no levels to show...Just as a goof, I held a similar tester with just plain tank water in it up next to the nitrate sample. It became clear that the nitrate test liquid certainly had a hue. Perhaps it is less than the lowest marking, (10 mg/l) but compared to the plain sample, it was yellowish. Perhaps a "five" on that scale. I still might get a new test, (cause I don't like the powders that come with fast-test) and double check. Thanks! Ed |
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dthurs![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4340 Kudos: 4170 Votes: 529 Registered: 18-Feb-2003 ![]() ![]() | That could explain it. Mine goes down to a 5. Dan |
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