Nitrate increased after wc?!

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Atfownz

Atfownz

Piranha
MFK Member
Jan 9, 2006
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My pygo tank water read 40 ppm... So I decided to do a 30% wc.. After it raised to 51?! Wth is going on? The tap water reads at 14ppm... I did some research which recommended doing a 50-60% wc. If I wake up to higher nitrate level, I'm going to do a full 60% after classes&internship.
 
You can often disturb detritus when doing a WC which will lead to higher nitrates. Did you gravel vac when doing said WC? I find it best to do it every time, so the nitrates can't creep back up.

Failing that, your tests may be out.
 
Yeah I make sure to clean the substrate each time. I woke up and the nitrate is at 51.7ppm... I'm definitely going to do a complete 60% wc. I hope the backto back doesn't stress the shoal out too much >.>
 
Dude Acutually, my tap is reading 25-28ppm.... Where can I get a didn't water source with easy access to putting it in my tank? I'm going to clean my filter and do. 60% wc. I hope this atleast lowers the damn thing..
 
Prime will neutralise the nitrtae in your tap water.
 
Hey Bro, you literally need to shake each bottle full force for a minute, then try the test. Bet it will be alot lower.


People always told me to shake it hard and I thought I did, but literally shake it like u wanna kill it....


Go S. Vettel #1 rb8
 
Either the test is bad or you didn't do it right. A good liquid nitrate kit will go bad eventually, I've had it happen several times over the years. The strips will never be accurate. So, either way, I'd recommend buying a brand new API liquid nitrate kit from a store with a lot of turnover (so it hasn't been sitting on the shelf for years), because something is wrong.

There's no way your nitrates will go up like that right after a water change, unless your tap water is higher in nitrates than your tank, and since your kit isn't even showing consistent numbers for your tapwater, it's likely a wrong reading.
 
I'm going to the lfs to pick one up. I was using this water testing tool which came with this water filtering pitcher. Maybe I should pick up a legit nitrate test kit. It always read correctly but I don't understand what is going on...I'm going to rely on the new test kit rather this stupid tool. Will keep u guys updated once I get the kit n go home.
 
U told us u already had an api master test kit. Apparently u ordered it a month ago?

Guess I'm lost....




Go S. Vettel #1 rb8
 
I ordered it but I wanted another one just to make sure I was reading it correctly... It was none of the test kits (api test kit, api nitrate test kit[new], and my nitrate reading tool[for drinking water]. Anyone can guess why it was doing that? I think I figured it out! Guesses?
 
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