Nitrate/Ammonia/Nitrite Plant consumption

[Frosty]

i have recently started a 10 gallon aquarium and the tank seems to be cycled there is no ammonia and nitrites are low but my nitrates never spiked. i have a cryptocoryne and a red dwarf alta in the tank with one guppy. what could be causing this? is it the plants consuming the nitrates?

[Frosty]

sorry just did another test 5ppm nitrate.

[Crabby]

Yes plants will most definitely consume nitrates. 

[sdlTBfanUK]

You are aiming for 0 ammonia and nitrites and a low nitrate figure! In the cycle this usually starts with a high ammonia figure (spike) with no (low) nitrites or nitrates, then high nitrites (spike) no ammonia or nitrates, and lastly low nitrates with no ammonia or nitrites. There should be some nitrates and as crabby states, the plants will consume nitrates - this is my understanding of the process anyway!

If you have nitrites then that won't be good for the guppy, but he may survive?

My really old neglected tank always has a nitrate reading of about 50 which is too high but the cherry shrimps and tetras survive (have done for years) well enough but I would think a nitrate figure of around 10 is the best. Ammonia and nitrites should be zero in a fully cycled tank.

Simon