No nitrates

[ronrca]

My 90G has been cycled and set up since March/April. I just managed to get rid of cyanobacteria. However, over the last couple weeks/months I have had no nitrate readings whatsoever. Not even colored the test tube. Could it be because of the cyanobacteria and now since it is gone, the nitrates will start showing up? Other readings normal; 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, ph 7.0, temp 84, 6 Discus, 1 German Blue Ram.

Even my lfs is baffled with no readings of nitrates. He mentioned that I have been cleaning my tank too much ie. vaccuuming gravel vigorously every week and cleaning/replacing media in canister filter. I too leave my canister filter alone for 6 months. Its a Filstar xp-3.

 

[fishboy]

It might be that the test liguid is bad 8) That happens to me all the time ;D LIke when i have 1 1 inch fish fish in a 10 gal and i just did a 90% water change it say that my ammonia is through the roof

 

[clothahump]

Are you sure you are conditioning your water properly.
Chloramine will give a reading of ammonia.
Might not be your test kit, could be your water.

 

[ronrca]

I thought that it was my test kit too but I took a sample to my lfs and he had the same results. Yesterday night I took another nitrate reading and I got a hint of color so nitrates are coming back. Horray. It was the cyanobacteria.

 

[ronrca]

My nitrates still have not come back.  > They are still under 5ppm. I dont know what it is. Im even adding ammonia hoping to increase the nitrates. Any ideas why I have no nitrates?

 

[clothahump]

With your Nitrates so low I should think you have got an anaerobic filtration bed somewhere in your tank.
Have you got undergravel heaters in use?
I can only think that this is the reason why you are getting hardly any Nitrates.
Wish mine would stay below 100ppm. 8)

 

[ronrca]

No ug heaters! What exactly is an "anaerobic filtration bed"?

 

[clothahump]

It is a filter that survives without oxygen.
With no oxygen present the bacteria have to break off molecules of nitrogen to feed on, thus reducing nitrates in the aquarium.
A friend of mine has one running on a centralised system containing Discus, there is very little flow and it is fed very slowly with a weak sugar solution.
The bacteria cannot function with out extra food, hence the sugar solution. 8)

 

[ronrca]

How long does it take for this conidition to occur? I just replaced my gravel with 50/50 mix flourite 1-2 weeks ago. Do you think it could happen that quickly? I noticed that cyano might be coming back. It seems to be some green film growing in my tank. Very light. I will give it until Saturday then will add e. tablets.

 

[Matt Nace]

You don't want anerobic conditions but like you said cloth , a low O2 with minamal water circulation. If you let it become anerobic, it could lead to Hydrogen sulphide, which will kill your fish. The heating coil ideas is that it draws the nutrients down in causing circulation of the water  down through.

ron,

stick some Jobe sticks in. That is the N you need. I have to do that or my plants suck it all up and it leaves me 0 ppm nitrAtes

 

[ronrca]

Thanks! Will try these Jobe sticks? What are Jobe sticks?  :-[
and where can I buy them?

 

[Matt Nace]

I like either Jobes or plant food spikes. I buy them 30 (24) for a $1 at wal-mart.

13-4-5
Dont get miriacle grow, they have too much phosphate(second number)
13-N
4-P2O5(slow releae phosphates)
5-potash

I break pieces off. Too many will boost your nitrate and phosphate too high after a few days.

I do this once a month or every other.

 

[ronrca]

So the first number is the Nitrates?

 

[Matt Nace]

yes the first is nitrogen not all of it is nitrate....
2% nitrate nitrogen
2% Urea nitrogen
2% water soluble organic nitrogen
7% water insoluable nitrogen.

The nitrogen materials are 8.5 % "occluded slow release nitrogen(N)"---->from plant food spikes(garden basics brand)

8)

 

[ronrca]

Cool! Thanks for the advice! ;D

Another question about nitrates/iron. I have Plant Grow for Pond Use (Laguna)
The ingrediants are: NPK: 0.26 - 0 - 4.3  
Total Nitrogen (N) - 0.26% Total Potassium (K) - 4.3% Sulfur (S) - 0.015% Boron (B) - 0.006% Chloride (Cl) - 3.9% Iron (Fe) - 0.3% Manganese (Mn) - 0.025% Molybdenum (Mo) - 0.002% Zinc (Zn) - 0.004%  

What Im unsure is how to read this! What does it mean 0.3% iron? For every tablespoon I add, it will have 0.3% iron? What happens when I put it in my 90G tank? How much will make 0.5mg/l of iron in the water? The same goes for Seachem Flourish; 0.58% iron! Just curious!

 

[Somonas]

Denitrator coils do the same thing (provide a location for anaerobic bacteria to grow. since the length of the tube is rather long oxygen in the water is quickly used up at the beginning of the tube)

for more information on this please ask and I'll provide web sites when I get home (don't have them at work)

Low nitrates are not a bad thing.  Doublecheck your ammonia/nitrite levels and if they are zero consider yourself very lucky to have no nitrates.

 

[ronrca]

I would like some more information plz! Low nitrates are ok but Im just worried about my plants.

 

[Matt Nace]

No nitrates is not good which is your plants are using them all up. Low is fine cause they are not.

Ron, this link from the krib should explain exactly what you need to know about dosing ..and what the bottle % is doing.

http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Fertilizer/dosing.html

 

[ronrca]

Thanks Ruby! I went to Walmart yesterday and bought some Jobe sticks. Very cheap! I put six into my tank. Is that enough? I guess I will just have to test and see what works best. I one I bought are for Ferns; 16-4-6. Im sure it will work much better now.

 

[dattack]

I know Jobe sticks can add a lot of nitrates to those heavy root feeders but I don't have long time experience with them to know what is enough.  I had one plant tank for 6 months and the roots was wrapped around the Jobe stick.  In other words, these thing last a long time but just remember not to accidentally uproot them when moving plants otherwise algae bloom. ;D