Algae with no excess nutrients?

[Richmond]

I just tested the water before and after my RO unit, and I'm getting .25 ammonia after the RO, and around 1 ppm untreated.

Why is there ammonia in my tap water? How do I fix this? Is it even important or could it be a contributing factor to my algae?

The other parameters are what I expected:
0 phosphate
0 nitrite
0 nitrates
7.X below 7.4 pH

 

[cmcoker]

Could be getting ammonia from chloramines in your water source. The carbon cartridge will break the chloramine bond, and take out the chlorine but ammonia will be left. It is not pulled out by the membrane, the di resin is what will eliminate it.

I think I'm remembering that correctly as I had an issue with ammonia in the rodi as well..

Randy Holmes-Farley helped me sort that out,
Here's my thread about ammonia in the rodi: https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/221194/

 

[CastAway]

I would get an algae scrubber to outcompete the algae in your tank. Your test kits could be upgraded but algae in a tank will always suck up the excess phosphate in the water column.

This is essentially what I think happens in my system. A refugium full of macro and micro algae, and, a display tank full of algae eating invertabrates, no macro algae and comparatively little micro algae. Water composition is the same in each.

I believe the presence of algae and yet no detectable NO3 or PO4 is called a nutrient sink, but I'm not sure.

 

[nwayne567]

You need a decent size clean up crew to keep it under control, like 4-6 snails, 4-6 hermit crabs, a couple of starfish. Depending on tank size, might need more, might need less.

 

[Richmond]

I have 5 hermits, 4 nassarius snails, and 3 turbo snails. For my one fish, I feel like my CUC is pretty decent (if not overkill).