Nitrate levels and reactors

[BMW Rider]

Okay, I was worried that perhaps there was some new knowledge about nitrates that I was missing. I can certainly understand the DIY bug and just wanting to have a go at it. No harm in that. I do have a fairly light bioload, and feed lightly, which likely contributes to my virtually non existant nitrates. I just didn't want to worry about some sort of undetected nitrate buildup polluting my tanks.

[Bryan]

Ditto for me, almost undetectable Nitrates using a Lamotte test kit, and all I have is a skimmer , liverock and barebottom tank. I actually add some Potassium Nitrate weekly to bring up the nitrates so my macroalgae has a chance to grow.

Originally Posted by BMW Rider

I've noticed a flurry of threads on the denitrators
and DIY reactors lately, and it has lead me to wonder why. What kind of nitrate levels are people typically experiencing in their tanks that justifies building these. I have never had high nitrate levels, not sure why, I've done nothing special to control them. Typically, I have less than 2-3 ppm, testing done with a Salfert kit, I can just barely distinguish a slight tint of colour in the solution when viewed through the side of the vial. Looking from the top down, I can't even tell its changed colour at all.

Am I just lucky or is this not unusual?