Very sorry to hear about your tank troubles!
Um, this is not a brag by any means! But our fish have been in 40 nitrate (yes, 40, four zero) for almost a year.
Nitrate isn't your fish's problem.
Everything needs a small amount of nitrate and phosphate to live.
Decades ago older test kits were unable to read true zero on either nitrate or phosphate. Getting both down to "zero", or undetectable, with then current testing technology was the goal.
Stripping both completely down to true zero is bad. ULN tanks are mostly now seen as a less desirable idea.
And yeah, if your corals are doing great then your tank should be good, right?!
I would have used that as a yardstick too!
Like I said earlier, our nitrate is horrible and high for almost a year in our 75 gallon tank. Too many fish, too well fed. Too many cryptic fish I'm always worried about starving.
(We are getting an ATS in next week. Looking forward to under 10 nitrate. Not concerned with going below 5 nitrate)
I am absolutely guessing it is based on your fish nutrition.
Do you mostly feed pellets?
Live foods, clams/mussels from the seafood counter are some of the best (lol, and cheapest) foods you can feed almost every single fish you have. It isn't ideal for a few plankton feeders, but most everyone else is a perfect candidate.
Pellets dont have the level of oil or fat needed by the fish.
The main problem with "not pellets" is the time commitment, lack of automation and overall general inconvenience.
Pros
6 of our coolest fish are handfed directly from my fingertips.
Half of the rest are hovering within 6".
Cons
Vacation is stressful. Cubes of frozen mysis by the tank sitter in the meantime.
Better Half hates the smell of clams. :-/
Chop them quickly still frozen and plan on 10 to 15 minutes time commitment.
Stupid wrasse jump out of the tank in the time it takes me to open the tops and then return with dirty fingertips covered in minced clams. :-/
Down to 3 out of 5 in the past year.
What types of fish have you lost?
