nitrate/phosphate and algae question

I've read on several threads that a low nitrate and/or phosphate reading could be because algae is using it up (so it's kind of a false 0). That makes sense enough to me.

My question is if algae is under control, does that trump the false 0? Like, it's no longer false because the algae is at acceptable levels?

Does the question make sense?

 

Yes you will be able to measure them as long as nothing is using them to grow. Once you already have algae problems there's no point in measuring as you said, there getting used

 

sort of, your tank just has really low levels that are being absorbed by the algae in there, which is getting eaten on a daily basis. You are basically at that "perfect circle" level in your tank.