Phosphate or Nitrates, which is the greater enemy?

[sen5241b]

I've heard that if you still have 10ppm nitrates its no big deal but phosphates are what you really need to completely eliminate in order to get rid of too much algae. True?

[Integral9]

Both will generate algae in any concentrations as they are food for algae. Phosphates are essentially fertalizers. So they are like Chipotle burritos to algae while nitrates are just Whoppers.

 

Personally I'm not happy unless my tests come back reading 0.

[lanman]

I've heard that if you still have 10ppm nitrates its no big deal but phosphates are what you really need to completely eliminate in order to get rid of too much algae. True?

I have 20-25 ppm nitrates. I had a hair algae problem. I started using phosphate remover, and the hair algae is dying. Nitrates are still 20-25ppm.

 

bob

[octopus]

Both will generate algae in any concentrations as they are food for algae. Phosphates are essentially fertalizers. So they are like Chipotle burritos to algae while nitrates are just Whoppers.

 

Personally I'm not happy unless my tests come back reading 0.

 

chipotle is the ****!

[kngfisher]

no, that is what I had after eating chipotle a few too many times.....