Week 5 of the new "experiment"
- Thread starter squid row
- Start date
Ron Reefman
Active member
0 nitrates is a curious result. The bacteria you have grown will process the ammonia to nitrite, so ammonia should go to zero. And more bacteria process the nitrite to nitrate, so nitrite should go to zero.
But unless you do a massive water change, or have a big refugium, or have some other form of nitrate removal, your nitrate number should be pretty high. Less than a week ago your nitrates were 50. So how did that become zero?
But unless you do a massive water change, or have a big refugium, or have some other form of nitrate removal, your nitrate number should be pretty high. Less than a week ago your nitrates were 50. So how did that become zero?
ZeeSparrow
New member
Make sure you are following the directions of the API nitrate test. Shake the bottles as directed (lots!) and the tubes for the specified amount of time. Not that you aren't... but it's worth mentioning as some people have made mistakes, which garners them results of 0 (when in actuality the number is much, much higher).
Martini5788
New member
PatW
New member
It is possible for nitrates to go to zero. The nitrogen cycle goes from ammonia to nitrite to nitrate and finally to nitrogen gas. The last stage is called denitrification and like every other step is mediated by bacteria. Denitrifying bacteria are anaerobic and can be found in deep sand beds in deeper within your rock. In most aquariums denifrification is not significant as a source of nitrate removal, but it can happen. If your testing is accurate, denitrification is the only explanation. By the way, another part of the nitrogen cycle is nitrogen fixation, the conversion of nitrogen gas to fixed nitrogen, I think ammonia but I am not sure. It is done in an anaerobic environment by bacteria or blue green algal mats. I have not seen anyone mention nitrogen fixation being important in a hobbiest's aquarium system.
Week 5 of the new "experiment"
Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all zero
I do have a very deep sand bed could that be a factor?
Going to order some snails and hermit crabs tomorrow
Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all zero
I do have a very deep sand bed could that be a factor?
Going to order some snails and hermit crabs tomorrow
Last edited:
Ron Reefman
Active member
You can't have had an ammonia reading and followed it by a nitrite deading and end up with no nitrate reading. Unless you are exporting the nitrate with a reactor, or refugium, carbon dosing or big water changes. Nitrate doesn't just disappear like the ammonia and nitrite issues did. You have to do something proactive to get them down.
If I were you, I'd take a sample of my water and my test kit to an LFS and them to test your water with their test kit AND test their water with your test kit. I wouldn't put livestock in the tank until you are absolutely sure about the nitrate levels.
If I were you, I'd take a sample of my water and my test kit to an LFS and them to test your water with their test kit AND test their water with your test kit. I wouldn't put livestock in the tank until you are absolutely sure about the nitrate levels.
ZeeSparrow
New member
I agree with Ron. Have the LFS double check your test results (and maybe procedure). Zero nitrates ARE possible through denitrification ... but not from 50 to 0 in a couple days on a relatively new system.
I took another set of tests and got the same results, so I took the advice offered up here and brought some water to my LFS
They conducted tests and confirmed what I found. 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites and 0 Nitrates
So, I bought my first fish tonight.
3 very small blue/green chromis and one very small ocellaris clown
I am going to keep this tank up and running for at least a couple of months before I set up my 80 gallon main tank and then convert this 20 into a quarantine tank
Thanks for all of the help
They conducted tests and confirmed what I found. 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites and 0 Nitrates
So, I bought my first fish tonight.
3 very small blue/green chromis and one very small ocellaris clown
I am going to keep this tank up and running for at least a couple of months before I set up my 80 gallon main tank and then convert this 20 into a quarantine tank
Thanks for all of the help
Ron Reefman
Active member
I'd still like to know where your nitrate went? I guess it just magically disappeared.
But I'm glad to read that you went the extra mile to double check.
One clown is OK if you don't intend to get another. It will be a female and it can be hard to introduce another immature clown to her to get a pair. I'd get a second 'very small' clown now and let them become a mated pair as they mature.
But I'm glad to read that you went the extra mile to double check.
One clown is OK if you don't intend to get another. It will be a female and it can be hard to introduce another immature clown to her to get a pair. I'd get a second 'very small' clown now and let them become a mated pair as they mature.
I agree with this. Also maybe if he included a picture of his tank or told us how "deep" of a sand bed even though most likely no matter how deep it wouldn't reduce his nitrates to 0. Interesting and mysterious. Good luck!
one month later.....
Water parameters are stable, 2 chromis and a clown fish doing very well.
Adding a clean up crew of snails, they seem to be doing their thing quite well. Have only pulled a magnet to clean the glass one time and they seem to have eaten the diatom algae on the rocks.
Next phase... this week I am starting to see for the first time some purple/reddish algae. I am assuming it is cyano.
Should I:
a: let it go
b: clean it off
c: check some water parameter other than ammonia, nitrite, nitrate?
Tank has a deep sand bed, four inches in spots, 1/2 inch in others. Dead rock that is now live rock I think, about 25 lbs give or tank.
Lighting is a 65 watt power compact with a 50/50 bulb, one powerhead and one hang on back marineland filter
Water parameters are stable, 2 chromis and a clown fish doing very well.
Adding a clean up crew of snails, they seem to be doing their thing quite well. Have only pulled a magnet to clean the glass one time and they seem to have eaten the diatom algae on the rocks.
Next phase... this week I am starting to see for the first time some purple/reddish algae. I am assuming it is cyano.
Should I:
a: let it go
b: clean it off
c: check some water parameter other than ammonia, nitrite, nitrate?
Tank has a deep sand bed, four inches in spots, 1/2 inch in others. Dead rock that is now live rock I think, about 25 lbs give or tank.
Lighting is a 65 watt power compact with a 50/50 bulb, one powerhead and one hang on back marineland filter
