Lots Of Fish + Very Few Plants But Zero Phosphates?

My tank has some Green spot algae and some kind of deficiencies but I don't know which nutrients. So I tested Phosphate level and it came out Zero! I tested RO water and it's also Zero! How? I heard that if you have lots of fish you will never run out of phosphate.

 

Are you getting green spot on the glass and hardware or plants?

 

Are you getting green spot on the glass and hardware or plants?

Yes a bunch of them!

 

Let's rule out some other issues first.

1) how long are your lights on for?
2) how often do you feed your fish, and what food are you feeding?
2) how often do you do water changes, and what percentage are you changing?

Also, looking at your plants, you have a lot of slower growers such as Java ferns, crypts, and anubias. These are more prone to green spot algae due to their slow rate of growth, especially in conditions with brighter lighting.

 

Looking at your plants, you have a lot of slower growers such as Java ferns, crypts, and anubias. These are more prone to green spot algae due to their slow rate of growth, especially in conditions with brighter lighting.

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+1, ... Very well put.

Regards
Bill

 

Let's rule out some other issues first.

1) how long are your lights on for?
2) how often do you feed your fish, and what food are you feeding?
2) how often do you do water changes, and what percentage are you changing?

Also, looking at your plants, you have a lot of slower growers such as Java ferns, crypts, and anubias. These are more prone to green spot algae due to their slow rate of growth, especially in conditions with brighter lighting.

I'm sorry but how do those plants have anything to do with low phosphate? I have GSA but not on the plants, only on glass.

 

Let's rule out some other issues first.

1) how long are your lights on for?
2) how often do you feed your fish, and what food are you feeding?
2) how often do you do water changes, and what percentage are you changing?

Also, looking at your plants, you have a lot of slower growers such as Java ferns, crypts, and anubias. These are more prone to green spot algae due to their slow rate of growth, especially in conditions with brighter lighting.

1. My lights are on around 6 - 8 hours
2. I feed them everyday with New Life Spectrum
3. I do wc 30% weekly

 

I'm sorry but how do those plants have anything to do with low phosphate? I have GSA but not on the plants, only on glass.

Ah, from your reply I thought you meant it was on everything.

I'll be honest. If there is no algae on your plants, and growth is healthy and green, and the GSA is only on your glass or hardware, I wouldn't worry. Just wipe the glass and carry on. If you want, dose a fertilizer that contains macros such as phosphates and potassium.

I have a high tech tank covered in carpeting plants. I get GSA on my glass and hardware. I inject CO2, and I dose NilocG Thrive S 3x a week, so I was worried I wasn't dosing enough to see GSA. Thrive should contain all the macro nutrients plants need in concentrated amounts. I was told as long as it is not on the plants, that I shouldn't worry. So I wipe my glass and bleach my glass hardware once a month.

Tell me, are you dosing any fertilizers at all? Unless you power-feed your fish they probably aren't producing nearly as much phosphate as you think they are, could be your plants are utilizing it all.