but isnt nitrate part of the normal cycle? I mean, isnt the live rock in my aquarium, the substrate and any other media able to sustain bacteria, generating nitrate just like a cannister filter?

is it a bad idea to use the filters if my goal is to have a coral reef with a very low fish volume?

Isnt it better to have nitrate than ammonia and nitrite?

I also run a skimmer that is rated almost twice the cappacity of my tank along side my cannisters.