API nitrate test showing 160ppm 2 days ago it showed 5ppm before a 50% water change.

[FishGuy67]

I was on a lil vacation and had some1 looking after my fish so I wasn't near a pc in a bit to check the thread; I took out all the metal tacks and the new rocks I added I also clean out my filters once a month as well; and honestly I'm so sick of the test getting 160+ppms when it can't be true I haven't even bothered to check since. I'll try half tank water half tap and straight from the filter etc. Today I do my normal water change anyway.

My testing kit isn't old and I do everything perfectly with it I even have a stopwatch to time it. I just added a baby longfin pleco and he's as happy as they get so I really think something was throwing the results off because my candy cane tetras are also showing spawning behavior atm which I highly doubt would happen in really high nitrate water.

I'm just so sick of that god forsaken api nitrate test.

I'll let you guys know how the results are in a bit.

[FishGuy67]

Same results with the NA after the water change 160+ but when I did give or take 50/50 tank and tap I got around 50ppm. So I have no god damn idea why still; I got rid of any variables I could think of and no change.

I'm calling BS on the test no way my tanks 160+; I did each NA test tank and 50/50 twice and got the same results so maybe it's human error I just haven't got any idea what. I'm really at the point of not even using the test anymore it's so annoying my fish are healthy that's what matters.

[FishGuy67]

I also just noticed some eggs scattered on the bottom so my candy cane tetras spawned! that's the second tetra to spawn in that tank!! first lemons that I gave to a friend now my candy canes. Which seems to support my NA level being complete BS even more.