At a loss

[KantGetRite]

So I have a 55g that currently has a few platys in it and a dwarf gourami. They seem to be very happy (some of the platys look healthy but stay on the bottom so I wonder if the current in my tank is too high or something)

I have an aqueon 55/75 HOB filter and my readings are as follows:

pH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm to MAYBE 5.0ppm or somewhere in between. Its not yellow but it isn't orange either.

I use an API Master test kit and I shake the crap out of the Nitrate bottles before testing.

I don't understand why I have 0ppm for Ammonia and Nitrite but no Nitrates. I mean there should be SOMETHING since there are fish in it and have been for a while, right?

 

[rmiller]

You have such a light bioload you may not see much more than 5 on your nitrates if you're doing regular water changes. How often and how much are you doing?

 

[librarygirl]

Agree with the above; your bioload is pretty light for a tank of that size, so nitrates won't rise that fast. My tank never gets above 5-10 nitrates even if I miss a week of water changes --I'm stocked pretty lightly for a 40 gal plus I have live plants. I wouldn't worry about it as long as ammonia and nitrite stay at 0.

 

[Fishperson]

Yeah, you have a low bioload, plus if you have plants they might make a dent in it.

 

[aquandrew]

how long is a while? if your tank is cycled, your ammonia and nitrite will always be 0