I have had my 40gal cichlid tank going for about 5 months. I posted here a few months ago regarding my terribly slow cycle that took 3 months to finish.
It has been a month now since the cycle completed. My ammonia and nitrite levels are always at zero
My question is this:
Is it normal/good that my NITRATE level is constantly at zero? I have only done one 20% water change in the past month, and the level is still zero. Even though the level was zero, I felt it was a good idea to give them a little new water. I thought that in the past few weeks there should have been at least some nitrate accumulation.
I use the API master test kit. The kit is 6 months old, and not expired. I have thoroughly shaken the bottles too. I know the nitrate test is valid because I have had readable nitrate levels in the past during the cycle.
I have a bit of reddish algae on the top of my large slate rock centerpiece that has been there for a few weeks. Could the algae be "eating" the nitrate? This is the only explanation I can come up with. Would it be reasonable for this bit of algae to be capable of consuming the Nitrate?
Any insight would be appreciated. Any comments on how to eliminate the algae would be great too! Thanks everybody!
It has been a month now since the cycle completed. My ammonia and nitrite levels are always at zero
My question is this:
Is it normal/good that my NITRATE level is constantly at zero? I have only done one 20% water change in the past month, and the level is still zero. Even though the level was zero, I felt it was a good idea to give them a little new water. I thought that in the past few weeks there should have been at least some nitrate accumulation.
I use the API master test kit. The kit is 6 months old, and not expired. I have thoroughly shaken the bottles too. I know the nitrate test is valid because I have had readable nitrate levels in the past during the cycle.
I have a bit of reddish algae on the top of my large slate rock centerpiece that has been there for a few weeks. Could the algae be "eating" the nitrate? This is the only explanation I can come up with. Would it be reasonable for this bit of algae to be capable of consuming the Nitrate?
Any insight would be appreciated. Any comments on how to eliminate the algae would be great too! Thanks everybody!