Odd readings

jack0528

My tank has now been set up for about 1.5 - 2 months (I don't remember the exact date.) My current readings, also verfied by the LFS are zeroes across the board (maybe minimal nitrates) for Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates. The tank has been cycled and no water changes have been done. I tested the water through the cycling stage and I had my spikes. From what I understand, Ammonia changes to nitrites which is then converted to Nitrates. My question to you guys is "where are my nitrates" after this length of time shouldn't I have something accumulating in the way of nitrates. The only thing I have as far as plants goes is one (maybe they called it a tulip or something) ball looking thing that I bought at walmart (no i do not usually shop for fish there. I bought this in a sealed package on a whim) It is starting to grow, but is still very small. Anyway enough rambling, nothing is dying or even acting funny. I just thought the readings were odd and I did not understand why it would read this. For fish load and filters look at my signature.

carriej

Loman

The readings are strange. I am glad you said it may be minimal Nitrate. I think you just have a fairly light bio load where little ammonia is introduced so the conversion ends up only producing minimal Nitrate. Over time it will probably accumulate.

I have never seen the final stage of the nitrogen process in a freshwater tank but I guess it is possible. The steps you describe to convert ammonia to nitrite to nitrate are all considered aerobic processes or ones that use oxygen. There is a final process that is anaerobic or does not use oxygen which converts Nitrate to nitrogen gas which simply bubbles out of the tank harmlessly. Thinks like denitrifacation coils use this process. I doubt seriouslt that is at play here but it is worth mentioning