Inaccurate Nitrate test?

[Unalome]

I've just performed my first test on my new tank (water was added yesterday) and not convinced my Nitrate tests are accurate...

I'm using the API Master Kit.

Result from tank water;


Nitrate bottle 1 seems to come out of the bottle orange rather than clear is this right?


I performed the test with my tap water and same result;


I'm following the instructions to the letter so any help is much appreciated!

[Andys temperate tank]

Have you shook the 2nd bottle to death and tapped it on a bench a few times?

It might be worth checking your nitrate level on your water suppliers web site to compare.

[Unalome]

Have you shook the 2nd bottle to death and tapped it on a bench a few times?

It might be worth checking your nitrate level on your water suppliers web site to compare.

Yeah shook it to death, can't say I tapped it on anything.

These are my results from the water suppliers website if anyone can help me make sense of them...

[black ghost]

Bang bottle #2 against the wall and test again.

It needs this occasionally…

The website says it averages about 30ppm.

[Unalome]

Bang bottle #2 against the wall and test again.

It needs this occasionally…

The website says it averages about 30ppm.

OK, I'll try again tomorrow... My next question (forgive me if stupid) would be if my water out the tap is 30-40ppm nitrates how can I tell that my tank is cycled? As results on day one it looks cycled already which obviously is not the case...

[black ghost]

If you add ammonia and it tests as zero ammonia and zero nitrite after a day, it’s cycled.

[Unalome]

If you add ammonia and it tests as zero ammonia and zero nitrite after a day, it’s cycled.

Thanks for all your help, I've just started my dark start tank so the aquasoil substrate should start leaching ammonia and should be cycled in 3-4 weeks if all goes to plan!

[black ghost]

Just keep an eye on ammonia, and nitrite when it comes, to stop them getting too high. Maximums of 5 (ammonia) and 15 (nitrite). I don’t know the product but I presume they won’t get that high(?) But lower is better. A tank full of fish won’t even make 1ppm so really any presence at all means it’s working. You can also change water at any time to stop nitrAtes getting too high. Always dechlorinate.

[Andys temperate tank]

What aqua soil are you using?

[Unalome]

What aqua soil are you using?

Tropica aquarium soil.