Nitrates
 

My tank has been running higher nitrates then I should have, between 20 to 50 depending on what light you look at it under. Here's my problem. My tap water is running at 20 after RO it is around 5. So after mixing it( Fluval Sea), it raises up to 10. It makes it very hard to lower nitrates when you are adding halve of what you have with a water change. Any suggestions would be wonderful. Thanks Larry

Ro/di
 

You should be reading 0 after ro water. Maybe you need a new filter.

have you tried getting a second opinion ? That does seem odd! I'd try another test kit or ask a Local Fish Store to test your water for you to see if they get the same result.

No not yet just started checking everything cause I wasn't making any headway on my fight. Is there nitrates in salt mixes?

To be honest, I have never tested my NSW for nitrates! I just assumed there was none. But I could be wrong :noidea:

That was always my assumption but with my test it showed an increase. Has anyone else ever tested new water for nitrates?

try a different test kit

You can't get nitrates from pure salt water nitrates are a result of the the breakdown of ammonia to nitrite to nitrate so even tap water shouldn't have any, if there is some the prefilters and RO alone will grab it even before DI. Grab a new test kit nitrate tests are notoriously sucky for what Shade of pink am I looking at

Anyway if they are high water changes are still the best to reduce them. :-)

Any recommended test kits I should use. Never thought test kit problems but come to think of it my high nitrates started with new test kit. My old test kit was expired so when started using new one assumed my old one was bad.

I use Salifert, but you're still looking at shades of pink lol! If you still have high nitrates after another test kit I'd try the Nitra guard from JL or your LFS if they carry it. Dropped my nitrates from 50+ down to 1ppm now in about a month's time. But to have nitrates in your tap, RO, and saltwater mix? I'd say the test kit is off too. Good luck.

Ok thanks will have to try another test kit and proceed from there