I've been using the estimative index fertilizing method in my 20H, and things seem to be doing ok. Except that when I test the water at the end of the week before my 50% water change, I seem to have very high nutrient levels. For example, I have 1.8 ppm phosphate and 50+ppm nitrate. I couldn't figure out why this was happening, but then I thought to test my tap water. It seems to be about 0.8 ppm phosphate and 5-10 ppm nitrate.
Is this normal for DC tap water? Or should I check my test kit?
--sam
Is it the tap water or my test kits?
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chris_todd
- Posts: 1118
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:05 pm
- Location: Catonsville
Calibrating your test kits is never a bad idea, and if you're dosing powdered ferts, that's easy to do. Having said that, I'm ashamed to admit I've never done that, but whenever I've tested my tap water (Baltimore City water), I've always had 10 ppm of Nitrates. I don't remember the phosphate levels in my tap water, but they weren't zero.
