The nitrate is an approximation, it may read 20 ppm on another kit
we never mind nitrate for six months in my cycling threads, however it lands in a well fed well exported tank is good enough for the first half year or so.
So , even on an Hanna checker , you wouldn't trust the result on <6 months old reef? Why is that?
I'm also running the skimmer 24/7 during cycling , don't know if that matters or has any negative impact, my thought it is it would export some stuff before turning nitrate and also oxygenate the water