Nitrate Hanna checker, always 0.00

[toxai]

Hello,

My tank has been working for some months and already introduced my first 2 fishes (1 ocellaris and 1 Pseudocheilinus hexataenia ). Both of them doing great. Kh just falls drastically, but thats ""okay"". Just need to add some kh blend weekly.
However, I have a big problem with nitrate. I guess its not normal at all to have 0.00. And it's always the same number. I checked on the instructions what may that mean, but the number is not "blinking". So...its not about the sample absorbing less light than the zero reference.
I've been doing it quite carefully and always clean all the instruments and cuvettes with osmosis water after every reading. Do you have an Idea on what can I be doing wrong ? Any general error begginers usually do ?
Thanks!

 

[olonmv]

What’s your water change regimen and tank volume?

 

[toxai]

What’s your water change regimen and tank volume?

120 L. And Still didn't make any water change. How often should I and how much water ?

 

[Waters]

You probably just don't have any nitrates....not uncommon in a new, understocked tank.

 

[olonmv]

That’ll be determined when you’re able to read nitrates. Sounds like you may have a faulty reader, contact Hanna with the issue.

 

[olonmv]

You probably just don't have any nitrates....not uncommon in a new, understocked tank.

Should have detectable nitrates after a cycle with no water change.

 

[Waters]

Should have detectable nitrates after a cycle with no water change.

Sometimes yes.....not always.

 

[fodsod]

Have you tried a different testing method? Maybe pick up a cheap kit for nitrate just to be sure the Hanna is working correctly.

 

[toxai]

Have you tried a different testing method? Maybe pick up a cheap kit for nitrate just to be sure the Hanna is working correctly.

I took a cuvette with sample to my local fish store and nitrates were low but they existed. And these days I've been stirring my sand so...lots of nitrates should appear I guess.
I'm mostly focus on the filter, I thought that was the problem at first. But I asked the seller of my local store to open for me another test to check how it was setted up, just in case I was setting it up wrongly. I re-tried it the way it looked like in the test shown and still the same so...

 

[olonmv]

When you add cuvette 2, do you press button for 3 seconds until timer starts?

 

[toxai]

When you add cuvette 2, do you press button for 3 seconds until timer starts?

Yes. And wait the long 8 minutes to check that the result is the same again xd.

 

[olonmv]

Yes. And wait the long 8 minutes to check that the result is the same again xd.

I lean towards a faulty egg:

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Feed heavy on a day and see if detectable what other equipment are you running? What filter system do you use? @fishguy242 any help here

 

[Rowboman]

I took a cuvette with sample to my local fish store and nitrates were low but they existed. And these days I've been stirring my sand so...lots of nitrates should appear I guess.
I'm mostly focus on the filter, I thought that was the problem at first. But I asked the seller of my local store to open for me another test to check how it was setted up, just in case I was setting it up wrongly. I re-tried it the way it looked like in the test shown and still the same so...

So you’re using the high range nitrate checker right?

 

[fishguy242]

Feed heavy on a day and see if detectable what other equipment are you running? What filter system do you use? @fishguy242 any help here

Sorry ,sold my Hannah's ,brand new, used twice...

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hello,

My tank has been working for some months and already introduced my first 2 fishes (1 ocellaris and 1 Pseudocheilinus hexataenia ). Both of them doing great. Kh just falls drastically, but thats ""okay"". Just need to add some kh blend weekly.
However, I have a big problem with nitrate. I guess its not normal at all to have 0.00. And it's always the same number. I checked on the instructions what may that mean, but the number is not "blinking". So...its not about the sample absorbing less light than the zero reference.
I've been doing it quite carefully and always clean all the instruments and cuvettes with osmosis water after every reading. Do you have an Idea on what can I be doing wrong ? Any general error begginers usually do ?
Thanks!

There have been a couple of batches of faulty Nitrate HR reagents.

Try another test kit, or another batch of reagents.

If the reagents are faulty Hanna will replace them.

 

[geeked]

This is why I always buy the calibration test. My nitrate test kit reads .04 high according to their calibration test kit.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This is why I always buy the calibration test. My nitrate test kit reads .04 high according to their calibration test kit.

Just to be clear, Hanna "calibration kits" are really not very useful if what you mean are the colored water samples.

A true calibration standard (seawater with X level of nitrate in it) would evaluate the reagents and user procedures, which this method does not. It just checks the electronics.

 

[Dan_P]

Hello,

My tank has been working for some months and already introduced my first 2 fishes (1 ocellaris and 1 Pseudocheilinus hexataenia ). Both of them doing great. Kh just falls drastically, but thats ""okay"". Just need to add some kh blend weekly.
However, I have a big problem with nitrate. I guess its not normal at all to have 0.00. And it's always the same number. I checked on the instructions what may that mean, but the number is not "blinking". So...its not about the sample absorbing less light than the zero reference.
I've been doing it quite carefully and always clean all the instruments and cuvettes with osmosis water after every reading. Do you have an Idea on what can I be doing wrong ? Any general error begginers usually do ?
Thanks!

What was the nitrate level after you cycled the tank?

 

[bozo]

I also have the Hanna Nitrate High range and I’ve been getting 0.06 to Zero.

Will contact Hanna for some new reagent