Nitrate

The past four weeks I've tested my water, my first test has been 25 or so. I test again and 0. Any ideas?

 

Hmmm, so both tests are one right after the other? Or is there a 4 week gap between?

Did you do any big water changes between tests?

I would try to bring in a sample to a LFS that has some Salifert tests if you had any nearby.

 

Both are one after another. I test every Thursday. Standard five gallon change every Monday. I like the idea of the lfs.

 

The test kit is fairly new. I can only recall about two or three times I've seen trace of no3 the two years its ran.

 

The first one looks more like 5 to me, but it could just be the photo...

 

It's the photo.

 

Have you used this brand of test kit before, and exactly how long have you had it? The only possibility I can think of is that something isn't completely clean with the first test. If that's not the case, then it's a total mystery to me.

 

I am trying to look up when I purchased that kit...to be continued.

 

Records show I bought it in August.

 

Not sure it would matter, but did you collect your water sample from the same part of the aquarium? i.e. if you collected the sample that read 0 right at the output of a biopellet reactor and the other near the overflow of the DT that might cause different readings.

Did you do a third test?