I think this betta is going to be my last :(

[Welsh]

API Master kit

[Oldfishlady]

Good....... on the nitrate reagents- it sometimes will settle giving false reading, shake the heck out of it, bang it on the table a couple of times and shake it until your arm hurts and then change hands and shake some more....then re-test the nitrate/also check the expiration dates-you should have nitrate reading by now and this tank does have a filter and always has...right.....and the tank doesn't have a lot of active growing plants, a few should not change it

[Welsh]

Yes all my tanks have always had filters even the 2.4 gall.

[Oldfishlady]

Originally Posted by Welsh

Yes all my tanks have always had filters even the 2.4 gall.

I thought they did, but just wanted to make sure....

[Welsh]

Is 0-nitrate a bad thing for a tank?

[Oldfishlady]

It is not a bad thing, but you should be showing nitrate level in a cycled filtered tank at least by the 8th week, very odd that you are not getting a nitrate level yet....

[Welsh]

Obviously I've messed up somewhere, do you have an idea what in the world i've done? lol

[Oldfishlady]

Did you shake the heck out of the nitrate reagent bottles and check to expiration date?
Not over cleaning the substrate or filter media or no new filter media added? no 100% cleanings not 100% water changes but a tear down of the tank....

[Welsh]

Nope, I clean the gravel once every two weeks, the dates are fine and I did shake teh bottle like a mad woman.

What I have noticed is that after testing the water yesterday I was too lazy to clean the test tubes and the Nitrate tube has now changed colour, its showing up as 5 on the chart, I dont know if this counts as its been standing for about 24 hours or so.

[Oldfishlady]

I would do the test again, I only give the test tube and cap a rinse in warm water between test.