Cycled Tank has No Nitrates . Please Help

[Astylin]

Hi, I've had my tank going for 10 years now. Recently added driftwood & rocks.. Which I boiled for days. I was trying to do water changes to get rid of Tannins. I've messed up my cycle. My ph is back to normal but my Nitrates are pretty much 0 ... what do I do?

Ph 7.2
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
nitrates .2 ?

 

[tlindsey]

Hi, I've had my tank going for 10 years now. Recently added driftwood & rocks.. Which I boiled for days. I was trying to do water changes to get rid of Tannins. I've messed up my cycle. My ph is back to normal but my Nitrates are pretty much 0 ... what do I do?

Ph 7.2
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
nitrates .2 ?

Shake the Nitrates test bottles for about 2 minutes and retest if no level of Nitrates showing check expiration date on bottles. You must have a reading of Nitrates for the nitrogen cycle to be complete.

 

[Imsobored152]

There is no cycle on a 10yr old tank. And water changes wouldnt affect an established tank

 

[skjl47]

Hello; As others have said check date on test kit. Also perhaps get some distilled water to clean the tubes.

 

[duanes]

My normal goal for nitrates was 2-5ppm.

 

[Drstrangelove]

If you are using a liquid test kit, and it has been sitting for a long time (weeks or months), it has to be tapped (on a counter) a few times and then shaken for 3 minutes. Otherwise, you can get a false reading.

Also check the expiration date as an expired test can also cause a false reading.


Generally speaking, it is highly unlikely to actually have zero nitrates in a cycled tank unless:

1) you have a heavily planted tank with just a few small fish

2) you did a 100% water change with 0 nitrate water about 10 minutes before you tested