Confused on Nitrate test results...

[_rising_]

Hello all,

So I am getting some inconsistent test result for nitrate. I got the salifert nitrate test kid at home reading between 40 to 50, however when I went to 3 different local fish stores i get 3 different results...really confused now.. anyway below is my setup and the results from my local fish stores.

Fish: 30 african cichlids (from 4-5 inches)
Tank: 125 g with two overflow and one small mini aquaponic plant/flower above (around 15 plants).
Overflows: both running with carbon, submerged bio balls and ceramic rings
Filter: FX5
Also just setup (two weeks ago) a mini aquaponic grow bed with 15 plants running with constant flood.

Test result from home using salifert nitrate: 40-50 ppm
Test result from LFS #1 using api strip: was told be around 160
Test result from LFS #2 using api strip: was told be around 130
Test result from LFS #3 using api liquid tesk kit: getting yellow after 5 min which mean zero?

Anyway so confused now. I just did a another 20% water change, now my salifert nitrate test kit read around 25-40 ppm. What is going on, which test shuold I go for? Also any advice on lowering nitrate beside water change? Any suggestion like Miracle Mud for freshwater? Thanks a ton!

 

[reelredfish]

Don't see many freshwater folks on here. Sorry not sure what to tell you but I used to have cichilds before I went over to the dark side...Just gave my old 120 gallon tank to my mom and once I complete the plumbing on it she plans to do cichilds in it so I will need to read up in order to guide her cause I have been out of fresh water for a while.

I know its more common now to overstack your tank to cut down on the aggression it the one type of fish they recommend more than less. But with that said you have to be able to handle the bio load of the extra fish.

 

[Quiet_Ivy]

Hello all,

So I am getting some inconsistent test result for nitrate. I got the salifert nitrate test kid at home reading between 40 to 50, however when I went to 3 different local fish stores i get 3 different results...really confused now.. anyway below is my setup and the results from my local fish stores.

Fish: 30 african cichlids (from 4-5 inches)
Tank: 125 g with two overflow and one small mini aquaponic plant/flower above (around 15 plants).
Overflows: both running with carbon, submerged bio balls and ceramic rings
Filter: FX5
Also just setup (two weeks ago) a mini aquaponic grow bed with 15 plants running with constant flood.

Test result from home using salifert nitrate: 40-50 ppm
Test result from LFS #1 using api strip: was told be around 160
Test result from LFS #2 using api strip: was told be around 130
Test result from LFS #3 using api liquid tesk kit: getting yellow after 5 min which mean zero?

Anyway so confused now. I just did a another 20% water change, now my salifert nitrate test kit read around 25-40 ppm. What is going on, which test shuold I go for? Also any advice on lowering nitrate beside water change? Any suggestion like Miracle Mud for freshwater? Thanks a ton!

Nice, I had cichlids (rams and shellies) before I went saltwater. API tests are notoriously inaccurate, the strips are worse. They are especially inaccurate if there is nitrIte present. I would believe the salifert test. You did a 20% wc and your nitrates dropped about 20%.

You need MORE plants! It may take a while for them to drop your numbers. And yea, water changes. Vacuum everything with the siphon. Pull the balls and rings, rinse them in the change water and stick them back in. Expect the numbers to drop right after you do a change, then come back up as more nitrate seeps into the water. Check your source water, if it's really bad you might do a couple of changes with reverse osmosis water (buffered like crazy of course).
hope that helps a bit

 

[JamesHolt]

Those strips are useless, the salifert would be a good one to use. My wife bought some of those strips when I started my Oscar tank I have now and we never could get the same reading twice..
More plants is a good thing also..
Since you have cichlids you dont have to worry about them bulldozing everything..
You may want to look at setting up a sump with some K1 media, as well as the FX5 filter, once you get it cycled it is an awsome setup..