How do people run successful reefs with zero phosphate and nitrate?

[Nate Chalk]

I see people suggest zero nitrate and phosphate but that doesn’t seem like it’s working for me,

my question in the title stands.

 

[shwareefer]

Don't listen to those people. Modern wisdom says zero zero leads to dinoflagellates. Last I looked recommended levels were .03 ppm phosphate and 5ppm nitrate but happiness can be found outside those suggestions.

But to your actual question, a tank jammed with corals can appear zero zero but everything is being taken up by the coral biomass.

 

[Double monti 61]

They do exist on natural reefs but the whole environment keeps them in check in a healthy reef.

 

[design.maddie]

Don't listen to those people. Modern wisdom says zero zero leads to dinoflagellates. Last I looked recommended levels were .03 ppm phosphate and 5ppm nitrate but happiness can be found outside those suggestions.

But to your actual question, a tank jammed with corals can appear zero zero but everything is being taken up by the coral biomass.

Yup! I left for vacation thought my beautiful SPS tank would be fine, came back and Dinos EVERYWHERE, that was a few months back. My sand is still disgusting with no idea how to get white sand again.

EDIT: I have All-for-reef and NP-Bacto dosing. Average Phos is .03-.05 and Nitrates are close to undetectable most days.

 

[blaxsun]

Anything is possible in Fantasyland!

 

[brandon429]

because test levels stated by aquarists using non digital kits rarely if ever match the readings for digital ones.
they're not really at zero usually in stocked tanks.

the reefers posting zero this or that are probably not right, yet umpires will accept any stated reading as verified fact and make a tank change recommend based on the stated levels. we see how this impacts cycling, it impacts it 100%.

the few test comparison threads Ive seen for common nitrate tests range dramatically on the same tank sample in most cases, the comparisons have been being logged years now. a few posted good matches to the hanna digital gear, most didnt and reported wildly for example between api and red sea nitrate/big variance on searchable threads. mis testing factors.

some tanks like zeovit setups were purposefully ran with low/accurately tracked numbers in those cases they were feeding well and dosing an array of supports but it wasnt allowed to break down into waste within the tank, it was handled or exported before it contributed to compiling nitrate and phosphate numbers.