melev
Well-known member
Are you running GFO on your tank? Sometimes that will make algae look darker / brown, although you did say it doesn't look like this in real life with those pictures.
If you have algae growth, you don't have zero phosphate. Either your kit is faulty, the method of testing is faulty, or it is bound up in the algae. Try ramping up the flow in the tank, specifically taking a turkey baster or powerhead and blasting off the rockwork to get the detritus in suspension.
Looks like you have more picking to do, and the new snails should really help.
If you have algae growth, you don't have zero phosphate. Either your kit is faulty, the method of testing is faulty, or it is bound up in the algae. Try ramping up the flow in the tank, specifically taking a turkey baster or powerhead and blasting off the rockwork to get the detritus in suspension.
Looks like you have more picking to do, and the new snails should really help.