Are high nitrates a problem?

[Reefing Reefer]

Let me start by saying my reef tank has never looked better! My Goniopora look full and SPS are thriving - Stylos/birdsnest look fluffy - only way to explain it- and for the first time I’ve kept an acropora alive.

With that being said I did a water test for the first time in several months - full transparency. The results were a little shocking, especially because I had bottomed out my nitrates/phosphates due to overfiltering and under feeding.

Current parameters are:
pH: 8.21 - 8.44
Alk: 10.7 dKH
Temp: 79
SG: 1.025
Nitrates: 26.4 !!!!
Phosphates: 0.21

I am feeding:
Reef Nutrition TDO 1x per day for fish
Broadcast feeding:
Phytofeast 1x per day
OysterFeast 1x every other day
Reefroods 1x per week
Alternate Acropower/Redsea AB+ 4 ML per day

Dosing 4.5 mL All for Reef per day

My initial reaction was to add nitrate removing media, deploy the filter floss again, but honestly the tank looks incredible - and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

I do a perpetual cyano issue that has been in my tank since I can remember, but I manage it in my nano by manual removal when I go bi-weekly 20% water changes. Lastly, I came up on a great deal for ICP test at ReefaPalooza and will be sending in a test today with the same water as my at home test (using Hanna testers).

Thoughts? Should I be concerned?

 

[blaxsun]

Based on my own experience, no (I used to peak and freak every time I got a high nitrate result). I think higher phosphates are a greater concern. Incidentally, I'm running anywhere from 30-50ppm nitrates in my tank (and have been averaging that for just over 2 years now).