Hmmm... I always ask myself the same question too.
Yes. My tank is low tech non-excel tank. I have tried ada special shade, then seachem florish, then now tropica premium and specialized fertilizer. My phophate reading are btw 0 to 0.25 ppm most of the time. Until i did some other test, like testing on tap water and the tank water after i dosed seachem neutral regulator, then found out the tester is actually functioning.
So come back to ur question, i guess u have planted tank, and yes, plants do require phosphate as one of the macro neutrients beside nitrogen and potassium. Frm ur reading, likely u are not specifically dose phosphate to ur tank and hence get zero reading. If u want to bring up phosphate level, u can try to dose seachem phosphate which is widely available frm lfs. Juz follow the instruction to bring up to ur desire level.
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