Before adding any chemical, I'll try to go a more natural way, like try turning off your skimmers a few hours at a time or anything else u might have taking out the nitrates. Or if your skimmer can be controlled, reduce its strength. Check water parameters everyday or 2 to prevent spikes. Also, although I do have fairly high nitrate in my mixed reef, about 30ppm, I spot feed my corals once a day that way they dont totally depend on the water particles for food. *feeding your corals can also increase nitrate levels.
The tank looks great Chris
U can try increasing the feeding to maybe 3x a week.i feed mine 1ce a day but may have to cut back to 3x a week. I made a mix of reef rods, coral frenzy, marine snow, phytoplankton, marine fuel, and Oyster eggs.
Yes that should increase the bioload and I think their under rated. The numbers dwindle sometimes as they kill of the weakest, but I’ve got 5 that I’ve had for ages and they have grown into very nice fish and they shoal.
Bio balls won’t really help unless ammonia levels are high where bacteria can break down ammonia into nitrites>nitrates.
He has lots of livestock with no nitrates. His bacteria levels must be extremely high and healthy. I don’t think adding any type of addition of media is going to increase nitrates. It should actually do just the opposite.
