Nitrate At 0?

[deano1978]

Hi guys

now the tank has finally cycled i am showing 0.0ppm on nitrates is that normal? i do have a 6 live plants in the tank just seems mega low to me checked it with the api kit and at the lfs they had a sera test and it was the same. my readings are,

Ammonia 0.0ppm

Nitrite 0.0ppm

Nitrate 0.0ppm

Ph 7.4 but i live in kent and its mega hard water here.

i have 12 neons, 2 dwarf gourami, a fighter, 8 guppy's, 5 platy's, 5 silvertips, 1 common pleco, and 4 corys. the tank is 200ltr which i believe is around 50 gallons. All fish are happy and healthy and the readings have been the same for over a week.

Is this normal, no nitrate or do i have some sort of special water?

[gm72]

Are you sure you actually cycled? Those water readings sound like a brand new tank.

Also, do you understand that your common pleco will end up outgrowing your current tank? They can get over a foot long and are quite dirty fish.

[deano1978]

i know the pleco will out grow the tank have somewhere for him to go when he gets too big.

As for being cycled yeah have had the tank running 9 weeks had massive readings of ammonia then nitrite had bacteria blooms the nitrate was high at about 40ppm but then has also fallen to 0. i have the fish in there if i had not cycled the ammonia would be mega wouldn't it? I do have 6 large plants which i know helps with the nitrate.

these results have been the same for over a week with all the fish in so i would say i'm definantly cycled.

[Chrona]

Sounds like you're done. The plants are probably eating up the nitrates.

[Lady Hobbs]

I'm another one that never has nitrates and if I do they are very low....like maybe 5. The only time I have them is when it's time to clean the tank. I assume in my planted tank the nitrates will be higher due to no gravel cleaning. I don't know yet as I only planted it last night.

[gm72]

Ah, live plants. Somehow missed that part. Sorry about that. Agreed then that you are all done!

[deano1978]

so does that mean i don't need to worry?

what about water changes? how often should i do one then? still once a week and how much?

well confused now.

[Chrona]

so does that mean i don't need to worry?

what about water changes? how often should i do one then? still once a week and how much?

well confused now.

Yep, you are all set now. Water change schedule should be the same with or without plants, as the plants will suffer without a fresh supply of water coming in. Ideally 50% weekly, but you can do 50% every other week too.