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Nitrate/nitrite tetra test help!

Bellabelloo

Julia
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I have been using the tetra nitrate and nitrite testing kits and now my readings have started to drop. I have been doing daily 20-30% water change for what seems like forever ( originally used the 5 in 1 test sticks and that showed a high reading). Ammonia has always been clear. While putting the stuff back in their boxes I began reading the back . Todays read as NO2 0.3 mg/l and NO3 as 12.5mg/l( originally NO2 1.6 mg/l and NO3 50mg/l). The back of the box says for No2 to divide the reading by 3.3 to get the Nitrite/nitrogen mg/l and NO3 to divide it by 4.4 for nitrate/nitrogen mg/l) I have never understood chemistry( except when it comes to cooking!) but what reading am I looking for?
 

kapo

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I'm only basing on the one I use which is AP brand. Basically anything above 0 for ammonia and nitrIte is unsafe. Was your tank cycled prior to getting your axies? A cycled tank would have 0 for ammonia and nitrite - and depending on if you have live plants or not a nitrate reading of between 10-60.
 

Bellabelloo

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yes it was cycled ( according to the origianl tests) I replaced the filter as the other was for a much smaller tank..but i used the filter media with the new one. I added more sand ( black) to what I had as they where sliding around on the clear spots. This was rinsed first under warm tap water ( held in roof tank so figured the chlorine would have dispersed) then with the water-but water, then added more plants as one was looking ropey. I suspect this affected the readings. If I follow the imformation on the boxes it looks like all is ok. I am waiting for a reply from Tetra .
 
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