New tank parameter question

[BrandonM]

I set up a new biocube 32, 2 months ago. Ive been testing the water weekly after startup. I put in a bottle of biospira and have been using stability and micro bacer 7, Like the instructions call for.

I have over 30 pounds of live rock in the tank, A 5x5 inch piece of no3 plate,chaeto in the fuge, chemipure blue and purigen. I have 5 fish in it and a 1.5 inch live sand bed. After 2 months i have a 0 nitrate reading. (Which im okay with) in fact i havent seen any parameters spike, but my question is why am I not even getting a nitrate reading? i dont think my chaeto is that affective? I only have a small hand full in the basket. Any imput will help

Thanks!

 

[BrandonM]

Here it is.

 

[BrandonM]

And I am getting nitrate reading from other tanks with the same tester, Ruling out a faulty tester.

 

[TreyC2010]

What type of NO3 plate?

 

[BrandonM]

Brightwell xport

 

[reeferfoxx]

Hi, are you still using stability and microbacter7?

 

[BrandonM]

Maybe once a week I add about 2 ml of each

 

[reeferfoxx]

Maybe once a week I add about 2 ml of each

Stability and MB7 both have denitrfying bacteria with a added carbon source as bacteria food. Usually vinegar or sugar. Bacteria need a carbon source as well as organic sources like no3 and po4. So every time you dose those two, bacteria is consuming, therefore you are removing those nitrates. My suggestion would be to stop dosing bottled stuff for awhile.