Bubble Algae Eradication with Unexpected Nutrient Results

[Steve2020]

I am in my 12th day of my bubble algae eradication routine and most of the bubble algae is either gone or transparent and soon to be gone. During this process I was expecting both my NO3 and PO4 to increase due to dying bubble algae but that has not been the case. Prior to the eradication process my nutrients were fairly stable with NO3 between 7-10ppm and PO4 between 0.07-0.1ppm. After day 5 my NO3 increased to 13.6ppm with no difference in PO4. Today is day 12 and my NO3 increased to 18.6ppm with no change in PO4. Why would I see the expected increase in NO3 but no change in PO4? I was expecting both to increase but that has not been the case. I have a DND and for the past 4-6 months it has been on NO3 stability mode but today I put it back into NO3 reducing mode.

 

[blaxsun]

Is it possible it's a testing error? My nitrates have always fluctuated a lot more than my phosphates.

 

[Steve2020]

Is it possible it's a testing error? My nitrates have always fluctuated a lot more than my phosphates.

Tested twice with same outcome with Hanna Checkers. They have never failed me before. Can't see why they would now. Test once a week for the past few years. The increase in NO3 was not unexpected due to decomposing Bubble Algae. What has me a little confused is why no increase in PO4. I figured both would go up due to algae consuming NO3 and PO4 while growing and spreading and then release it back into the water when they melt away but that seems to be not the case for some reason.

 

[I never finish anythi]

Randy could tell you . Not a bad thing tho .

 

[Steve2020]

Randy could tell you . Not a bad thing tho .

I also posted this thread on the Reef Chemistry Forum to see if any of the chemistry experts could explain why I am seeing what I am seeing but no comments as of yet. Agree not a bad thing but I am just wanting to know why PO4 not also increasing for my own general knowledge.

 

[Steve2020]

I just thought of something. I wonder if the expected increase in PO4 is being absorbed by my rockscape and substrate and not showing up in the water column as of yet? Just a thought!
When I had a Dino outbreak last year I increased my Nutrients as part of the eradication process and my PO4 got up to 0.28ppm and took a few months to come back down due to leaching.

 

[taricha]

PO4 tends to respond slower (both up and down) to changes than NO3 does, largely for reasons you stated.