High nitrate and ammonia

[Bill]

One of my ember tetras died today, so I decided to test the water to see if anything was off and it was.

Nitrate: 100

Nitrite: 0

Ammonia: 0.25

I have no idea how this happened as everything was fine when I tested a week or two ago. Does anyone have any idea what happened? Everyone else seems fine. I'm doing a large water change tonight.

[OinKY]

Check expiration dates on the nitrate kit...if it's strips,toss the things (they absorb moisture everytime you open the lid) and get a drop-style kit.
If the kit is a drop-style make sure you timed it correctly and shook it well.

Nitrates through the roof like that are usually indicative of too small water changes,or no water changes,so IMO if the readings were low last week (<15) and you did at least a 25% wc then you stll would be no where near that number...check your method and/or the kit.

[Gerry]

nitrate kits need the life shaken out them before each use. if you didn't shake it well and for a while it can give a false reading

[Bill]

I always shake the test kits before I Use them. But I tested again an it was fine, I must have added too many drops on accident.

[Gerry]

cool