I'd like to try to start a thread about something I've seen little bits and pieces about here and there, and can't tell what to believe or not.
Knowing that algaes consume nutrients, I've seen some people suggest that trying to test for nitrate and phosphate is essentially pointless when you have any algae, because they'll test low due to being constantly taken up by algae. The conclusion is that if you have any algae, then you have high enough nitrate and phosphate to feed it, regardless of what test kits say. Is this accurate? If so, does it suggest that testing for these nutrients (hoping to get accurate numbers) is pointless if you have any algae around?
As a follow up question, does the distinction between organic vs inorganic nutrients matter here? Do our test kits detect only one, or both? Do algae consume only one, or both? In other words, does dosing nitrate or phosphate to keep "detectable" levels in our kits interact with the initial question above?
Thanks in advance!
Knowing that algaes consume nutrients, I've seen some people suggest that trying to test for nitrate and phosphate is essentially pointless when you have any algae, because they'll test low due to being constantly taken up by algae. The conclusion is that if you have any algae, then you have high enough nitrate and phosphate to feed it, regardless of what test kits say. Is this accurate? If so, does it suggest that testing for these nutrients (hoping to get accurate numbers) is pointless if you have any algae around?
As a follow up question, does the distinction between organic vs inorganic nutrients matter here? Do our test kits detect only one, or both? Do algae consume only one, or both? In other words, does dosing nitrate or phosphate to keep "detectable" levels in our kits interact with the initial question above?
Thanks in advance!