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My 29 gallon doesn't ever seem to have any detectable nitrate. It is fairly heavily planted (anubias, crypts java fern, wisteria, and hornwort), and I assume the plants are using all of it that's available. I'm using DIY C02 yeast method. Ammonia and nitrites are always 0. PH is about 6.9 and KH is 3.5. Tap is ~7.4-7.6.
I am using a API drop test, and get what I believe are good results using the same test procedure with my 10 gal, my nitrates in that tank start at about 10 ppm right after my weekly 25% change and go up to 30-40 before the next.
My plants appear to be growing, and I weary of changing what seems to be working, but I've heard 0 nitrates can be a recipe for algae. Which i only seem to have a bit of green spot and brown algae on some plants, nothing that I'd call a big deal, or outbreak. Water is clear as could be, and it takes a week for anything to grow on the front wall.
My question is three-fold:
Why do I not have detectable nitrate levels?
Should I be dosing with Flourish Nitrogen, or pure KNO3 (or something else) to increase my levels?
Should I be feeding my fish more? I typically feed them once per day with a once a week fast day and have always done so. My Pleco also gets a wafer replaced by zucchini once time per week right after the lights go out.
Thanks and sorry for going on for so long!
I am using a API drop test, and get what I believe are good results using the same test procedure with my 10 gal, my nitrates in that tank start at about 10 ppm right after my weekly 25% change and go up to 30-40 before the next.
My plants appear to be growing, and I weary of changing what seems to be working, but I've heard 0 nitrates can be a recipe for algae. Which i only seem to have a bit of green spot and brown algae on some plants, nothing that I'd call a big deal, or outbreak. Water is clear as could be, and it takes a week for anything to grow on the front wall.
My question is three-fold:
Why do I not have detectable nitrate levels?
Should I be dosing with Flourish Nitrogen, or pure KNO3 (or something else) to increase my levels?
Should I be feeding my fish more? I typically feed them once per day with a once a week fast day and have always done so. My Pleco also gets a wafer replaced by zucchini once time per week right after the lights go out.
Thanks and sorry for going on for so long!