FALSE READINGS??
- Thread starter G’sReef
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Not necessarily; the algae is using up all your nutrients to grow, so the test shows zero.
ZombieEngineer
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The Hanna could be right if you have the High / normal range checkers. If you don't have an adequate cleanup crew, the algae will consume the available NO3 PO4 as it leeches from your rocks and show the reading as undetectable in high range kits, or very low in low range kits.
I would suggest manual removal first, then likely a small increase in your CUC.
What is your current Cleanup Crew?
How old is your tank?
How big is your tank?
I would suggest manual removal first, then likely a small increase in your CUC.
What is your current Cleanup Crew?
How old is your tank?
How big is your tank?
G’sReef
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Tank is about 18 months old and is 139gal (525xl) I need to boost my crew up cause there isn’t much there. Am real big on quarantine everything so am getting more crew with my next order from my qt vendor. I got ALOT out with my last water change but I noticed the algae is still strong. Would you recommend continuing dosing NOPOX? I just started
Randy Holmes-Farley
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False (inaccurate) readings can never be inferred by levels of algae in the tank (IMO).
Nutrients can be very low simply because the algae is taking them up. That's exactly how a macroalgae refugium or turf scrubber is supposed to operate.
Nutrients can be very low simply because the algae is taking them up. That's exactly how a macroalgae refugium or turf scrubber is supposed to operate.
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Measurements tell you what is in the water and nothing about what is available to algae. Also, the correlation between algal growth and what is in the water is only approximate. Very frustrating!If I have this much algae and reading 0 on both my Hanna Checkers for Phosphate & Nitrates, does this mean my readings are wrong?
ZombieEngineer
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I would suggest ReefCleaners. Their CUC never mixes with fish or corals and they ship snails in soaked paper towels not bags of water so I just drop those right in without QT and have never heard anyone have an issue.
Probably wouldn't hurt to continue the NOPOX dosing. I've never used it myself though since GFO, carbon, mature live rock, and a moderately sized cleanup crew have always done the trick for me outside of bryopsis.
G’sReef
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So until the algae is gone testing is irrelevant? Can I continue dosing NOPOX without worrying about dropping to low?
G’sReef
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Thanks I will look into them. I usually use Dr. Reef for fish & CUC
Randy Holmes-Farley
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No, it just depends on how you use the info.
If algae is thriving in great gobs, its likely OK to dose NOPOX still, but I also would not assume it will solve the algae issue. Reducing nutrients is not always a good way to deal with algae.
