Regarding the nitrate reading of 0 i was absolutely mistaken. After creating a mystery as to where my nitrates went so fast I decided to retest. I discovered that inmy haste I forgot to add the nitrate solution 2 to the test tube. My nitrate levels are actually around 20-40 pmm. Sorry for the rookie mistake
No need for sorry. Many of us (
myself maybe more than once) have made the EXACT same mistake. It's one that you and several others can learn from. It's also a PRIME example of why you want to always consider an alternate test source when you get a # that is out of ordinary or that just doesn't "feel" right. Here's how I handle such a situation:
- A) Have a friend come over and use MY test kit... if same results go to B). If different results I retest with my kit to see if I skipped a step.
- B) If he/she got the same results we use his/her test kit to help rule out a faulty (out of date etc) test kit... if same results go to C).
- C) It's never a bad idea to take a water sample to your LFS and let them run the same test with their kits. This way you can have be sure there isn't anything wrong with your kit and or testing procedures.
If A), B), and C) produce the same (
or similar but out of range) results THEN you have a problem in your tank and you need to start addressing it.
In regards to feeding the tank now... You must keep something in the tank for the bacteria to work on. Some people will feed (
as mentioned above) but I find it much easier and more efficient to drop another deli shrimp in. This feeds the bacteria 24/7 and really will boost your total bacteria colonization until you're ready to add fish. I've found that as time goes by the shrimp is "consumed" quicker and quicker because the bacteria colonize (
to a certain amount ) to meet the current needs of the tank. The stronger your initial bacteria colony the better jump-start you have and your tank will be better prepared for your first finned additions.
In regards to water change amount.... you need to understand what the water change does in regards to NO3 reduction. As Glenn pointed out you get a net NO3 reduction of almost a direct proportion to % of water change. This means a 50% water change will net somewhere around 50% NO3 reduction. This is how you find out how much of a water change you need. If you have 40ppm and you want to get down to 10ppm you'll want something more like 75% or several smaller ones. But keep in mind that as your tank matures (
over several months etc) it will be able to handle (
remove) NO3 to some degree on it's own. The amount it can maintain is dependent upon MANY factors but more established tanks do better at NO3 reduction than newly set up tanks for sure.
if you have not started water changes yet... we have lots of smart RS members
