If I have GHA and I test for Nitrates and Phosphates It is not abnormal to get a zero reading because the phosphates are locked up in the GHA right ?

Following the same line of thought with macro algae the macro ties up the nutrients so it is not available to the GHA correct ?

If the GHA growing in the tank has the phosphates locked up until they read zero, what causes the new algae growth ? IF there is not enough free nutrients available to grow the macro, Wouldnt the GHA growth eventually stabilize ? And subsequent harvesting of the phosphate laden GHA help in exporting said nutrients ? Maybe eventually to acceptable levels assuming there is no more phosphates/ nutrients introduced ?


I realize that it would take less energy and nutrients to grow a simple structure like GHA compared to a more complex one like Chaeto. but eventually all phosphates would be locked up the same as the macro algae principle. with nothing left to feed from the GHA should given enough time starve itself out ??? wishful thinking ? lol.


If all this is true, wouldn't it lead us to the conclusion that phosphates was not the main cause of GHA ? I have read posts of people having GHA problems in a low nutriet condition.