Water parameters/vanishing algae

[Sicklid]

I did a major overhaul of my tank, and finally got around to getting some test kits... not sure of their accuracy, but what I can do is gauge whether levels are rising or falling by comparison... But I have seen the areas where I did not scrape algae off shrinking rapidly, and the plants are doing well. Stopped dosing excel, and have noticed improvements also. Here are my parameters with DIY co2:

KH = 3
PH = 6.6
NO2 = 0.0 ppm
NO3 = 5 ppm
PO3-4 = 0.25 ppm
Ammonia = 0.0 ppm

I had been previously getting blooms on the glass, and a nice carpet of BGA on just about everything within three days of every cleaning. but without test kits it's basically fruitless to try and balance anything in a tank like my 2.5 gal.

Are my levels looking good? I have calculated my dissolved CO2 at around 22-23ppm.

 

[rkilling1]

I would be worried with the NO3 number you have gotten. Once your NO3's are depleted, the BGA takes over. Even though your test kit shows 5 PPM, it could be next to nothing. Some test kits are know to show false values when reading low levels of NO3's.

 

[Sicklid]

Yes, I had read about that here and elsewhere, I am hoping for the best... I am just using the regular old aquarium pharmaceuticals kit, I am sure it's not the best. I am just hoping to at least detect when it is a different color from the last test, like maybe a lighter shade.