BS water parameters...

Does water quality has great effect on delaying mating behaviour or laying eggs?

I have been waiting for 10 months now for my 3 spieces to spawn, giving them home based food.

Of course the are other parameters but,

My nitrates are between 25-50ppm. Should i try to lower nitrates ?

Thanks,

Three things:
 
1) Stability.  Doesn't have to be perfect, just within parameters.
2) Lighting.  12-15 hours of light, on a timer, everyday (See above).
3) Time.  Can't do nuthin bout this but wait

Thanks a lot, so nitrates wont be a serious issue for my pairs. Another thing is the decoration, two tanks are barebottom, should i give sand and rocks a chance? Also my tomatos are so shy that when they see me, both hide behind the pot, guess they will take long way two spawn( spawned in a reef tank before).

My tomatos where the same way. Once they started laying my female didnt run and just protected the nest. My male was still a wimp. I would have to feed them then step back away from the tank to make sure they would eat. So they would feel more comfortable.

My tomato's did the same thing but one day I pulled one of the pots and found out they had been laying for what i think was some time on the back of the pot.  From then on it was pretty easy to tell as when they would spawn you could always see an egg or two through the hole in the middle of the pot.