Cannot get nitrates down from 20 and getting really frustrated

[Deadlocked]

Hello all, I'm about 3 months into having my first reef tank. It's a biocube 32 gal. I have a royal gramma and 2 snails. Ive done multiple water changes and no matter what i do i cannot get my nitrates close to 0. It stays at about 20ppm. The other parameters in my tank are fine. I have a corralife protein skimmer and it's definitely picking up skimmate. Im not sure what else im supposed to do. I change the floss sponge in my media basket. Im hesitant to add chemicals and carbon if i really don't need to. Ive gotten a new test kit and it's reading the same. Any guidance would help. Thanks in advance.

 

[Bo.]

20 isn't bad, what is your end goal for reducing further?

 

[Deadlocked]

20 isn't bad, what is your end goal for reducing further?

I want to add coral to my tank. And im not sure if i can add more fish with 20ppm. Those are my concerns

 

[Bo.]

What do you feed and how often? How old is your tank, and what fish are you thinking of adding?

 

[TheDragonsReef]

20ppm isn't bad for lps and softies. Are you using rodi water?

 

[Deadlocked]

20ppm isn't bad for lps and softies. Are you using rodi water?

Yeah i buy rodi from my LFS. The water tests 0 for nitrates.

 

[Deadlocked]

What do you feed and how often? How old is your tank, and what fish are you thinking of adding?

I feed mysis shrimp every other day. I give a little at a time to make sure my fish finishes it. And im honestly not sure. Im trying to figure out what i want. I don't want a clown fish. Im thinking about a blenny or some sort of wrasse.

 

[jeffchapok]

20 is fine if you're just getting started. You'll want to stick to the easier softies and LPS at this point anyway. They like 'dirty' water. My NO3 has been 50 for 2 years now. I even grow montipora like crazy. I just stay away from high-end SPS.

 

[Rmckoy]

20 is acceptable for most part ...

this also depends on feeding , other live stock ,
Bio load ....

What goes in , must come out .
i wouldn’t aim for as close to zero as possible ,

I keep mine above 5 as you don’t want zero