I NEVER have Nitrates... question

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Gage Zamrzla

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Jun 25, 2010
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Penn Valley, CA
Ya, that's about it. My 75g Dat grow out which I'll be honest is a bit overstocked NEVER has any nitrates.. Obviously that's good but I don't get it. The tank IS fully cycled and has been running for a few months now. My test results ALWAYS come out as such:

Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm

Stock:
7 IT Dats 2"-3"
1 AT 5"
4 SD's 3"-4"
7 Clown Loaches 3"

Filtration:
Fluval 305 & 404
Penguin 350
(Both canisters have sponges on the intakes that are cleaned during W/C)

W/C Schedule:
I remove approx 10-15g per week, once a month removing 25g instead
I do a light gravel vac 1-2 times per month where the fish spend most of their time (where any poop is located)
I use water from the tap which tests 0 nitrates

Food never gets left in the tank because what ever the Dats and SD's dont get the Loaches finish off pretty quickly in addition to their food.

Am I simply on top of things or is there a land mine sitting under me waiting to explode? Also I've taken my water to my LFS to get a second opinion and it comes out the same.
 
Well, if it isn't heavily planted, your fish REALLY have to take a piss.
 
I should have added, I have some anacharis floating on the top but it's not a lot.
 
they are not a lot but they could do a lot!
 
muffywrx;5105002; said:
Hum. Interesting. What biomedia?

Ehfi Eheim and I still haven't had to change anything else out from the original 305, the 404 is just ehfi and the sponges
 
619aquaponics;5105015; said:
What substrate do you use and how deep is it?

2" of super naturals Tahitian moon with a small layer of natural rock gravel just because it looks nice.
 
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