API test kit showing true results? - Aquarium Advice

hamburgler · 12-18-2006, 03:27 PM

I have a little inquiry about the API freshwater test kit...to put a long story short i have set up my first tanks in the past 5 months. Both african cichlid tanks...the first a grow out then to a 55g.
I used bio spira to cycle the first tank and transferred all media and substrate to the new tank.
Both tanks have had perfect water params throughout the time being set up except for 10ppm nitrate once when i first set up the first tank.

Basicly since then (the past 5 months) the water params have been 0ppm across the board. Never had a fish die, etc. I weekly do ~30% water changes.

So now that i have told you my tanks life stories...is this irregular, is the test wrong (i follow the directions, i dont see how i can mess that up), or am i just lucky?

kaz · 12-18-2006, 05:25 PM

test is wrong about what your nitrates ? you will basicly always have nitrates once it has cycle that is why you need to do water changes.

**Fishyfanatic** · 12-18-2006, 05:30 PM

I'd get a new Nitrate test kit.

MyCatsDrool · 12-18-2006, 05:34 PM

You really have to shake the crap out of bottle two of the nitrate kit and the test tube after you add the 10 drops from bottle two

kaz · 12-18-2006, 05:37 PM

my tap water comes already with 10ppm of nitrates.

JustOneMore20 · 12-18-2006, 06:31 PM

I also think your nitrAte test could be wrong. Even an understocked tank with Africans would have some nitrAtes. They are messy fish!

Get a new nitrAte test and make sure you follow the directions exactly. The AP nitrAte test takes a few mins to do, but you have to take your time to get an accurate reading.

kaz · 12-18-2006, 06:43 PM

check expiration date on box. once they sold me one that was expire and it didnt read anything

hamburgler · 12-18-2006, 07:08 PM

Expiration date is fine. I think i will try shaking bottle 2 more for the nitrates.

kaz · 12-18-2006, 07:25 PM

you need to drop first bottle then shake the second bottle before using for 30sec and the tube with water and first drops for 10sec
then drop the second sets of drops from the second bottle and then you need to shake the glass tube with water and both bottle drops for 1minutes and wait after for five to mesure results

12-18-2006, 03:27 PM	#1
hamburgler Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 99	API test kit showing true results? I have a little inquiry about the API freshwater test kit...to put a long story short i have set up my first tanks in the past 5 months. Both african cichlid tanks...the first a grow out then to a 55g. I used bio spira to cycle the first tank and transferred all media and substrate to the new tank. Both tanks have had perfect water params throughout the time being set up except for 10ppm nitrate once when i first set up the first tank. Basicly since then (the past 5 months) the water params have been 0ppm across the board. Never had a fish die, etc. I weekly do ~30% water changes. So now that i have told you my tanks life stories...is this irregular, is the test wrong (i follow the directions, i dont see how i can mess that up), or am i just lucky?

12-18-2006, 05:25 PM	#2
kaz Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,290	test is wrong about what your nitrates ? you will basicly always have nitrates once it has cycle that is why you need to do water changes. __________________ I thank you all for your attention and time! 75g/Rena Xp3/Inline Heater/Rena Air 200/Eco-Complete/Current Dual Daylight System 6 Rummy Nose, 9 Ottos, 2 Yoyo Loach, 1 Golden Nugget Pleco, 2 Julli's Cory, 4 Angelicus Botia, 1 Chocolate Kuhli Loach, 3 Ghost Shrimp, 1 SAE, 1 Black Mollie, 1 Redeye Swordtail Mollie, 1 C-Pleco, MTS, Guppy's Plants Argentine Sword, Amazon Sword, Micro Sword, Xmas Moss, Pennywort, Hornwort, Jave Fern, Baby Tears, Moneywort, Ludwigia, Wisteria, Giant Bacoba, Hygro 'Sunset'

12-18-2006, 05:30 PM	#3
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	I'd get a new Nitrate test kit. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

12-18-2006, 05:34 PM	#4
MyCatsDrool Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 857	You really have to shake the crap out of bottle two of the nitrate kit and the test tube after you add the 10 drops from bottle two __________________ Watch our thread! A MyCatsDrool and Travis Simonson Joint Production....55 Tanganyikan Tank. It is hidden in the photography showcase. It is really my tank, but Trav is helping and we live next door from each other...so.... CCTV Has shut its doors. Off the air. 5.5 gal ADA rimless cube, fully planted, killifish breeder. coming soon to a forum near you. It's called Sex Panther, by Odeon. Illegal in 9 countries. Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.

12-18-2006, 05:37 PM	#5
kaz Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,290	my tap water comes already with 10ppm of nitrates. __________________ I thank you all for your attention and time! 75g/Rena Xp3/Inline Heater/Rena Air 200/Eco-Complete/Current Dual Daylight System 6 Rummy Nose, 9 Ottos, 2 Yoyo Loach, 1 Golden Nugget Pleco, 2 Julli's Cory, 4 Angelicus Botia, 1 Chocolate Kuhli Loach, 3 Ghost Shrimp, 1 SAE, 1 Black Mollie, 1 Redeye Swordtail Mollie, 1 C-Pleco, MTS, Guppy's Plants Argentine Sword, Amazon Sword, Micro Sword, Xmas Moss, Pennywort, Hornwort, Jave Fern, Baby Tears, Moneywort, Ludwigia, Wisteria, Giant Bacoba, Hygro 'Sunset'

12-18-2006, 06:43 PM	#7
kaz Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,290	check expiration date on box. once they sold me one that was expire and it didnt read anything __________________ I thank you all for your attention and time! 75g/Rena Xp3/Inline Heater/Rena Air 200/Eco-Complete/Current Dual Daylight System 6 Rummy Nose, 9 Ottos, 2 Yoyo Loach, 1 Golden Nugget Pleco, 2 Julli's Cory, 4 Angelicus Botia, 1 Chocolate Kuhli Loach, 3 Ghost Shrimp, 1 SAE, 1 Black Mollie, 1 Redeye Swordtail Mollie, 1 C-Pleco, MTS, Guppy's Plants Argentine Sword, Amazon Sword, Micro Sword, Xmas Moss, Pennywort, Hornwort, Jave Fern, Baby Tears, Moneywort, Ludwigia, Wisteria, Giant Bacoba, Hygro 'Sunset'

12-18-2006, 07:08 PM	#8
hamburgler Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 99	Expiration date is fine. I think i will try shaking bottle 2 more for the nitrates.

12-18-2006, 07:25 PM	#9
kaz Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,290	you need to drop first bottle then shake the second bottle before using for 30sec and the tube with water and first drops for 10sec then drop the second sets of drops from the second bottle and then you need to shake the glass tube with water and both bottle drops for 1minutes and wait after for five to mesure results __________________ I thank you all for your attention and time! 75g/Rena Xp3/Inline Heater/Rena Air 200/Eco-Complete/Current Dual Daylight System 6 Rummy Nose, 9 Ottos, 2 Yoyo Loach, 1 Golden Nugget Pleco, 2 Julli's Cory, 4 Angelicus Botia, 1 Chocolate Kuhli Loach, 3 Ghost Shrimp, 1 SAE, 1 Black Mollie, 1 Redeye Swordtail Mollie, 1 C-Pleco, MTS, Guppy's Plants Argentine Sword, Amazon Sword, Micro Sword, Xmas Moss, Pennywort, Hornwort, Jave Fern, Baby Tears, Moneywort, Ludwigia, Wisteria, Giant Bacoba, Hygro 'Sunset'

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