Skimmer dropping nutrients fast

[Jshoji]

My tank is 11 month old 85.3 gallon with consistent weekly nitrate readings of 16 and phosphate .15

Five days ago I added a skimmer and with daily testing noticed no3 and po4 are dropping fast.

Two days ago I upped feeding fish to 3 times a day and have been including powdered plankton foods to help nutrients back in but still seeing downtrend today the levels are no3 - 11 and po4 .08

I know these numbers aren’t undesirable but I’m concerned about speed of drop and if I let continue could bottom nutrients. Hoping to address now before getting lower and looking for any suggestions what’s best course of action

Should I

• feed more?
• reduce skimmer runtime?
• add more fish? (currently 3)

 

[Ghost25]

If you're worried about it just stop running the skimmer. Three fish in 85 gallons is a very light bioload especially for an 11 month old tank, it seems you were doing fine without it.

 

[Jshoji]

If you're worried about it just stop running the skimmer. Three fish in 85 gallons is a very light bioload especially for an 11 month old tank, it seems you were doing fine without it.

A part of me enjoys seeing the amount of stuff getting pulled out but maybe I’ll just keep in the sump and run when needed.Thanks for the input