Not enough Nitrate - how did that happen?

[Jcat2k]

Hey all, hope this is in the right place..

I recently moved up in tanks from a 32 gal LED Biocube to an IM SR60 AIO. Just before I moved to the larger tank (a couple of weeks ago,) my phosphate (Hanna) and Nitrate (API) were at or near zero in the Biocube.

Now in the larger tank, phosphate reads 0.04 and Nitrate at or near 0.00 (who can tell with API kit)

I have no special export methods (no refugium, no GFO, no nothing - not even a skimmer) and I am feeding nutrient dense pellets.

I was feeding every other day in a '1 pellet for you, 1 pellet for you' manner. I have now added a frozen mysis feeding 2-3 times a week and I throw the pellets in like candy. I feed the corals once a week with reef chili above and beyond what they get when I feed frozen.

I have no terrible outbreaks, there is some algae on the rock and some in the sand. I would think some algae would mean I have some nitrate since the phosphate value isn't egregious.

Livestock: 2 clowns, 1 purple firefish, 1 royal gamma, 1 blood red fire shrimp, 2 trochus, 1 cirith, 1 neasrious snail (sorry for spellings lol)

I'm concerned because I don't want dino and stuff that comes with unbalanced nutrients.

Temp: 77.6-78.3
Salinity 1.026
Alk 8-8.25 Hanna
Calc 480 (best I can tell with API, seems high since I haven't dosed)
Nitrite (unknown - no test kit)
Ammonia 0.00
Phosphate 0.04 Hanna
Nitrate 0.00? API

Any sensible ideas for raising the Nitrate - or am I worried about nothing?

 

[SPR1968]

Well the easiest way is to add more fish and then feed them, simple.

Then you will enter the endless cycle of trying to keep Nitrate down! Lol

I think the balance of views is changing from running ultra low nutrient systems, to actually having higher nutrients to feed the corals etc and maybe a good nitrate target is 5-10ppm but it’s sll personal preference with this hobby

The danger with 0 is as you realise could create issues other than phosphate which should be very low

 

[Jcat2k]

Well the easiest way is to add more fish and then feed them, simple.

Then you will enter the endless cycle of trying to keep Nitrate down! Lol

I think the balance of views is changing from running ultra low nutrient systems, to actually having higher nutrients to feed the corals etc and maybe a good nitrate target is 5-10ppm but it’s sll personal preference with this hobby

The danger with 0 is as you realise could create issues other than phosphate which should be very low

I thought about adding a fish, but was hoping to have more emphasis on corals...