I am not sure testing accuracy is the issue. You have a GHA infestation and this could be zeroing out the nitrate and phosphate. If you think this bunk, yeah, definitely try another test to confirm the numbers. The Salifert tests though are pretty good though. 0 nitrate and phosphate is likely to be very low levels of both. Maybe think about dealing with the algae rather than buying mor test kits. Just a thought.
I have been trying to rip out as much as possible but it always comes back in less than a week. I can rip out the long pieces but it leaves little green fuzzy tufts on the rocks that I cannot get off. I DO NOT want to take rocks out and clean them that way. Too many corals to worry about with that method. Should I drop in more bacteria to assist in overpowering the GHA
Hold on. He’s battling algae and this recommendation is to feed the tank more algae fertilizer than it’s already eating up? This requires explanation.
OK, I understand your situation. Physically removing algae cannot remove all the microscopic bits in cracks but it can’t be good for the algae either. I think that means the advice from R2R forum will be a ravenous algae eating animal - you do not need a huge number, just enough to harvest the algae but not so many that they starve to death when the algae becomes scarce - or some miracle cure in a bottle.
Algae or not your corals require nitrate and phosphate. Let them hit 0 and he’ll be dealing with a lot more than some nuisance algae which can be handled by clean up crew and herbivores.
