Questions about water quality

[Crazypetlady]

We have a tank set up on our living room its a 36 gallon tank. We started it with quick start and water conditioner the guy at the store told my husband he could immediately add fish with the quick start he bought three fish. All three are alive and swimming fine. The tank had a bacteria bloom about a week ago that cleared in three days. All levels are looking good except nitrate it’s still reading 0 or almost 0 is this normal what can I do or do I just wait.

 

[ZxC]

What kind of fish?

My guess is the tank is not cycled, but with only 3 fish in a 36 gallon it might be diluted enough to not register on the test kit.

 

[Crazypetlady]

What kind of fish?

My guess is the tank is not cycled, but with only 3 fish in a 36 gallon it might be diluted enough to not register on the test kit.

Comet Gold fish that will be moved to our pond when they get a bit bigger. Been in there for a month and a half.

 

[Aiken Drum]

The 0ppm ammonia and nitrite is good. Like ZxC says, perhaps your nitrates are so low that they aren't reading. The other possibility is that you aren't undertaking the nitrate test correctly. You really need to shake the heck out of bottle #2 or you will get a false 0ppm reading.

Keep doing tests, nitates will show up eventually. If you get readable ammonia or nitrite do a water change.

 

[kbalaz]

your tank isn't cycled. quick start will help get it started, thats it. Keep an eye on your water and keep up with water changes

 

[Crazypetlady]

Okay that’s a possibility I was putting bottle # 1&2 in then capping off and shaking hard for 15 second then letting it sit for a few minutes.

 

[Crazypetlady]

your tank isn't cycled. quick start will help get it started, thats it. Keep an eye on your water and keep up with water changes

No problems there I enjoy doing water changes I find it relaxing

 

[Aiken Drum]

Okay that’s a possibility I was putting bottle # 1&2 in then capping off and shaking hard for 15 second then letting it sit for a few minutes.

Follow the instructions religiously. I think its 30 seconds shaking of bottle #2 before adding it and then a further 60 seconds shaking of the test tube . And i mean vigorous shaking. Then read after 5 minutes.

 

[kbalaz]

No problems there I enjoy doing water changes I find it relaxing

I do as well. Therapy.

 

[Crazypetlady]

Follow the instructions religiously. I think its 30 seconds shaking of bottle #2 before adding it and then a further 60 seconds shaking of the test tube . And i mean vigorous shaking. Then read after 5 minutes.

Oh goodness Thank you, I went off what I was told as I have trouble reading small print.

 

[Crazypetlady]

Glad I’m not the only one

 

[Aiken Drum]

Oh goodness Thank you, I went off what I was told as I have trouble reading small print.

My first tank was a month in before i realised i had misread the instructions. I think i was watching a youtube aquatics Q and A and it came up. I was like "thats why Im not getting nitrates!". Immediately did another test and water change.

 

[Crazypetlady]

Thank you I appreciate it