can nitrate be 0?

[dryDiver]

hi all, since i am quite new in this hobby, hope to get some input from you guys/gals.

i have this 3ft side overflow tank running for 1 year already. no water change for 1 month and the nitrate is 0; this is after my 2 harlequin shrimps just consumed 1 big linckia starfish with shreds of white meat flying all over the tank. i thought with all this rotting n contamination nitrate level would go up. i also have 5 other clownfish n some zoa n mushrooms in this tank. it gets about 3 hours of direct sunlight in the afternoon n some algae plant on the rock is growing (dont know the name though). appreciate your reading n input. tks

[yikai]

yes why not. if you have a very efficient skimmer and very stable biological skimmer, i don't see why this is impossible. plus, 5 clownfish in a 3ft tank is very low bioload.

it's unusual, but not impossible.

[BFG]

Check your test kit expiration date.