Explain this one. Nitrates

[Lady Hobbs]

We know about cycling and high ammonia then nitrites and finally high nitrates. Do a large water change and cycle is finished. But explain why my high nitrates go down to zero as well and I don't even need to do the large water change.

When I was finished cycling my 29 gallon last week, the nitrates were at 80 by the 3rd day, 40 on the 4th day and by the final and last day had dropped to 0. (Some plants in the tank)

I started then cycling my 10 gallon which finished up just today and here I am again.....0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates with no final water change.

Blows my mind! I think I have Miracle Water as not only do I never have nitrates, I don't even have them at the end of a cycle.

[jeffs99dime]

maybe the plants that you have are using them. that would be my guess. that is very fast though

[Lady Hobbs]

I only have one of these two I just cycled with plants. The other has none. My cycle consisted of just changing out the gravel.......which is almost a full cycle. LOL They were both well seeded. I added the ammonia daily and everything went like clockwork. I just don't know where my dang nitrates go.

Not that I care because it saves me a big water change but it is just sooooo odd.

[xoolooxunny]

if you have plants and no fish yet, those plants will suck up the nitrates and use them for food. My nitrates never go above 10ppm in my 75g, even if i dont do water changes, bc the plants suck them up almost as fast as the bacteria can pump them out!

[cocoa_pleco]

Tsk tsk, a mod posting in the wrong section. lol:ezpi_wink1:

[Lady Hobbs]

The Tank SetUp section is not the wrong section. I'm setting up a tank......correct?

[cocoa_pleco]

oh yeah, lol

I got pwn3d. Bedtime for me:ezpi_wink1:

[jeffs99dime]

oh yeah, lol

I got pwn3d. Bedtime for me:ezpi_wink1:

yeah you did

[Drumachine09]

I just don't know where my dang nitrates go.



I think i can shed some light on your problem. You know when you wash a load of clothes, and that one sock goes missing? You must not be washing enough socks, because you arent apeasing the dryer gods. They decided to take your nitrates instead.

[Gelo_USA]

I think i can shed some light on your problem. You know when you wash a load of clothes, and that one sock goes missing? You must not be washing enough socks, because you arent apeasing the dryer gods. They decided to take your nitrates instead.

WOW.... LOL

maybe u've got NITRATE eating bacteria.... LOL or ur water is just magic.... or u are a ninja... :hmm3grin2orange:

BTW: cocoa ... GOOD NIGHT LOL..... pwned

[Drumachine09]

WOW.... LOL



True story, i saw it on 20/20 once. And datelines, "to catch a sock stealer" Watch out hobbs, cris hansen should be stopping by soon, and akward moments will ensue.

[Lady Hobbs]

When I mentioned in the angel forum that I seldom ever showed nitrates, they said "good for you. It shows you keep immaculate tanks" so I felt pretty good as I do keep them very clean. But having the nitrates just disappear like that after a cycle is a brain-stumper. The "only" thing I can think of is I only use charcoal during a cycle to help remove toxins and only add the charcoal when it's near the end of the cycle.

I doubt that's it but have no other explanation. I understand plants eat nitrates but I have 4 tanks that never show any. One of the mysteries in fish keeping, I guess.