My filter system is very basic, pad, carbon, denitrate, ceramic rings, bio balls, (skimmer I don't run it all the time) and live sand.
Did you think I sure take the denitrate out?
The LED lights is a pain bc everyone says something different!!
I would remove the de-Nitrate until nitrates start to become a problem. Then I would add it back in very small measured quantities until the tank stabilized with 2-5ppm of NO3 (wherever everything seems the happiest).
The LED thing, yeah... I get that, that's why I ditched my Kessil AP700's in favor of an ATI powermodule, where I get lots of light from the t5's and I can tweak the cycle/with the integrated LED's. Plus in their computer program, I can tell each LED cluster which one of ATI's T5 bulbs I want it to emulate.
Too me, it is the best of both worlds, user friendly, and it's proven to grow corals.
I'm not telling you to ditch what you have, but there is a learning curve to LED's and i personally would rather spend my time messing with other stuff than worrying if my spectrum of my lighting is right. I also had a bad experience with the Kessil AP700's and their user interface. So the user friendly actual working program was of paramount importance. That being said, everything comes with a price.
Lighting is likely going to be one of the biggest expenses in the hobby, you really do get what you pay for. You also have to weigh what interests you in this hobby. Some people love having the newest greatest light. I just want something that does what I tell it to do, turns on when it is supposed to, turns off when it is supposed to, grows corals like weeds, and looks pleasing to my eye. If it can do a simulated morning/dusk with moonlight then that's just icing on the cake.
I don't know if any of that is helpful, lighting is tricky and has lots of personal preferences attached too it. Don't be afraid to ask people what they are using on their tanks when they post pictures, most people love to talk about their tanks and lighting!
