High nitrate test reading

[Bigjacko]

I have just set up an RSM 250. Ro water used with a fresh bucket of nitrate free Tetra salt. 33kg of premium LR was placed in the tank on Friday and has been left over the course of the weekend to settle. I opened the RS test lab supplied with the RS Starter pack this morning to find that one of the nitrate test liquids wasn't sealed correctly and has leaked into the box slightly.

Now I have ran all of the tests which have come up fine. No ammonia,nitrite, pH is between 8-8.3 and nitrate is showing 25-50 ppm. Is the test bottle that was leaking faulty? Has it gone off?

I have my suspicions because I own an old Tetra lab kit and ran all of the same tests with the same results, except the nitrate. With the Tetra the nitrate is showing 0, where I want to be.......but which test is right?:confused:

[gedsta]

Its possible the nitrate test result is correct.

Ammonia gets converted to nitrites, nitrites get converted to nitrates.

Its also possible that your tank has done a cycle, and the nitrates are left over. They should go down by themselves and it is quite common in a new tank.

Have you had any readings for ammonia or nitrites that were above 0?

[gedsta]

Forgot to add, you could try mixing up a ltr of salt-water and then test the nitrates with the one you think is suspect.

[Bigjacko]

Yup I will do. I am running off 25l of ro at the moment and will test the salt.

There is a slight trace of ammonia0.025ppm at the last test and no nitrite. Nitrate is still showing 25-50 ppm on a second test and 0 with the Tetra test:confused:

[gedsta]

Ammonia has got to go up from the start, which it looks like it is doing. At the same time, nitrites may or not go up (mine did) as this is produced from the ammonia, and then it changes to nitrates.

Once your ammonia is down to 0 and the nitrites are 0 then you are on your way.

At the end of the day ammonia and nitrites are more poisonous than nitrates. You could run a tank with nitrates at 20 or so, but during the cycling process these should come back down to 0 anyway.

[Bigjacko]

Thanks mate. I made a fresh litre of water and brought up to the required salinity. Tested with the RS test kit and it showed 0. Ruled out the salt and showed that the test kit is working. I also ran side by side a tank test which is showing a now lesser reading of 2.5-20 ppm. So I think it may be coming down already.....wheewwww....panic over for the time being.:thanks: