I have wondered the same thing. I have been trying to get my tank in line with the BRS recommendations with little luck. I have 3 fish that I feed 2x per day, I usually feed BRS reef chili 3x per week and I still can’t get my nitrates past 0. A few weeks ago I started dosing UWC’s Refine Nitrate + (company that makes Vibrant) almost daily and I still can’t get above 0 using Red Sea tests. I do weekly water changes and I don’t plan on stopping that because my corals always have better extension after so they must be depleting some trace elements that I don’t dose. My guess is that the sand, rock, coral and bio spheres are consuming everything right now. My phosphates are low but in line with BRS.Can I ask how some of you guys get such high Nitrates and detectable Phosphates? I guess maybe as my tank matures (3 mo old), they will rise but I am at 0ppm Phos and 2ppm Nitrates (Salifert). I'm sure my Hammers and Torch would be happier. But I do get enough algae on the glass that I need to scrap it every 4 days. I feed every other day with LRS Reef Frenzy Nano.
I also ended up cutting a strip from the stock sponge and put it between chamber 2&3 to prevent any loose chaeto from getting caught in/chopped up by the return pump.
I also ended up cutting a strip from the stock sponge and put it between chamber 2&3 to prevent any loose chaeto from getting caught in/chopped up by the return pump.
The chaeto has slowed down a little but it's definitely still growing. My nitrates have been bouncing between 0 and 5 for a little while but I'm sure it will find it's balance at some point, and phosphates are at 0. The amount green film algae in my DT is definitely decreasing. So far so good!
I converted mine into a frag tank. Works really well for a couple dozen.
With a AI Prime HD on one side and a Kessil A80 on the other, I have a great par spread so far I think. I’m getting 275-300+on the top rack, 175-275 in the middle, 100-175 on the sides, and 50-80 under the top rack.
I run the intank in the first chamber and I modified the second chamber to run a skimmer. I might pull out the skimmer though. The filtration is too good now I think.
The higher water level freaked me out at first but I don’t mind it now.
I think my next addition is a ClearView kid.
Would like to know also.Can I ask how some of you guys get such high Nitrates and detectable Phosphates? I guess maybe as my tank matures (3 mo old), they will rise but I am at 0ppm Phos and 2ppm Nitrates (Salifert). I'm sure my Hammers and Torch would be happier. But I do get enough algae on the glass that I need to scrap it every 4 days. I feed every other day with LRS Reef Frenzy Nano.
That seems like way too much for 13 gallons. You’re kidding right? 200 times the turnover of your display tank?
Great looking tank what lighting are you running on that?This one is a little over two years old. Only LPS and Soft corals. Such a relatively compact and simple AIO.
Everything is doing great with the Aquaknight A029 LED. 
