Look ma, no skimmer!!
Still no skimmer, but I'm happy to say nitrate is down around 0.2 ppm, and phosphate is undetectable with Sailfert kits.
I haven't done a water change on this tank since it was setup, so this is the tank processing waste on its own. Yay.
Although...I did manage to overdose calcium and magnesium. Calcium is about 485 ppm, alk 7 dKH, and magnesium 1450 ppm. Ooops. So I did the first water change lastnight of about 5 or 6 gallons. I will test again tonight to see if it's better today.