No nitrate= bad test kit?

[cornraker]

i've had a 125 gal fowlr up for a couple months now but it was established before i bought it. I kept half the water and everything so there wasnt much of a die off or another cycle or anything like that. I take regular water tests and something peculiar has arised. My nitrates are still at zero. I have done 40 gallon water changes at 3 week intervals. I ahve about 80 lbs of live rock. There is a porcupine puffer, a maroon clown, a yelow tang, and a firefish in the tank. I have an API test kit that expired a month ago. Could that be my issue? I did take my water to the LFS and they said everything was perfect. I didn't ask for the specific levels though.

 

[AquaReeferMan]

My tanks run at 0 nitrates. If you have your biological fitration running as it should be and you do regular water changes then you shouldnt have any nitrates. I would still get a new test kit though just to be sure.

 

[sslak]

Ask your local fish store to test for nitrates. Confirm the results your test gave you with another test.

No need to buy a new kit if the LFS comes up with the same results.

 

[Palting]

Yes, you can have 0 nitrates in an established tank. So, your tet kit is probably correct.

But, I don't like expired things. Expired means "dead", you know?

 

[zachfishman]

Yes, you can have 0 nitrates in an established tank. So, your tet kit is probably correct.

Not that it means anything, I have 0 measurable NO3 and PO4 (confirmed by LFS test) and have GHA going nutso. :spin2:

 

[sminker]

Not that it means anything, I have 0 measurable NO3 and PO4 (confirmed by LFS test) and have GHA going nutso. :spin2:

same here, i havent had a detectable nitrate or phosphate in 2 years