Another test result thread

Okay, so I have not ran tests on my tank for a year or so, (long story).

Got my new kits today, have never had a phosphate test kit before. Bought a seachem phosphate kit and API nitrate kit, plus had an older API nitrate kit already.

Multiple tests with the Seachem phosphate kit gave me this -

Tank = 0
Tap Water = 0.2
Reference = 1.0

I have always used conditioned tap water with this tank, and now I see that I need to get an RO/DI unit on the way. But my tank kept reading zero. The instructions state that high levels will throw the kit off and give a false low reading. I am assuming that's the case with my tank water, because I have tons of cyano. Has anyone else run into this before?

Ran multiple tests with both the new and old API nitrate test kits. All of the tests read the same exact results, of basically zero ppm nitrates. Hard to read that kit, but DEFINITELY under 5ppm.

I guess I'm wondering people's opinions on if you feel like these tests are accurate, and if I can have so much nuisance algae with such low nitrates. Are phosphates the main problem? And is the po4 kit just reading wrong because my levels are probably so high in the tank? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Your phosphates and nitrates are ridiculously high if you have tons of cyano. They are absorbing all the nutrients.

 

I do manual removal, And at the moment there's just a moderate amount in the tank. I know the phosphates are high, but I wouldn't think that my nitrates are sky high. You are suggesting that I'm getting low readings because every bit of it is bound in the algae?

 

Cyano feeds mainly on phosphates, and tends to absorb all of it, storing the excess for later use should the input lower or cease. With that in mind, along with the fact that you don't have gha, there's a good chance that your test readings for phosphates and nitrates are actually accurate.

Your best indicator is your livestock. If everything looks happy and healthy, then your levels are fine; you just need to find the source of the phosphates to eradicate the cyano.

 

Thank you very much for this response. This is kinda the answer i was looking for. I think i found my source, the tap water i have always used. Is 0.2 considered high in terms of phosphate levels?

 

Yes, nearly 10 times higher than normal. You want to keep them at 0.00 - 0.03 in your tank.

 

Thanks mr. Bill, these were the exact answers i was looking for. Now i know what direction i need to go.

 

You're quite welcome.