Is it possible to have nitrites but no nitrates?

mbarber87

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I am new to the hobby and just picked up some Hanna testing kit for the LR and ULR Nitrites. Both of them tested at 6ppm which seemed much higher than expected. I used the Salifert test kit to test Nitrates and it came back at 0. Same with Phosphates.

I don't really know what this means for my tank. Is this bad?

Other parameters that may be helpful are:
Alk - 7.4
Cal - 416
Ammonia - .25ppm

Tank is about 5 months old.
 
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taricha

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The hi707 (low range nitrite) and hi764 (ultra low range nitrite) report in ppb of Nitrite-N. Not ppm.
so 6 ppb of nitrite-Nitrogen is pretty small, and could be consistent (within uncertainties) with a zero Nitrate from another kit.

edit, I see you have measurable ammonia, so yeah. expect some nitrite, and eventually after ammonia drops the nitrite can drop and then nitrate testing will work properly.
 

piranhaman00

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Testing error. API for ammonia?

You have 0s across the board. Raise No3
 

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