Big GSA problem in my tank. How long will it take for it to go away?

Raimeiken · 03-27-2008, 04:36 AM

I read and research a lot around here and I know that cranking the Co2 and Phosphate is suppose to get rid of the GSA. But by how much? Im doing an IE dosage on my 50gal tank. Im putting 1/4 tsp now of phosphate 3x a week and I cranked the Co2 that my drop checker is turning yellow, but the fish and shrimps dont seem to be complaining. It's been a week or so now but I dont see much change.

Last week my water got cloudy but I dont know what the cause was. Im thinking it might have been my over dosing of phosphate mixed with the nitrates in the tank and ammonia since the crap on the substrate got mixed around during the water change. So I ran a diatom filter to get rid of the cloudiness since it wasn'y going away after a few days. i was starting to think that it's GW. My water is clear now since the Diatom filter is still running, but Im still getting a lot of GSA.

How long will it take before it starts reciding after cranking my phosphates and Co2 up?

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mistergreen · 03-27-2008, 05:03 AM

it doesn't go away on it's own.. Once algae takes a hold, they'll stick around. You have to scrape it off the glass.

Raimeiken · 03-27-2008, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistergreen

it doesn't go away on it's own.. Once algae takes a hold, they'll stick around. You have to scrape it off the glass.

yeah thats what I do but it comes back

**lauraleellbp** · 03-27-2008, 07:15 PM

How much lighting is on this tank?

Raimeiken · 03-27-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

How much lighting is on this tank?

it's a 50 gal tank with 3 t-8s that are about 32 watts each. so that's 96watts. Then I also have a 2 t-5s on there 18watts each.

It might be the lighting also, so I decided to turn the t-5s off and see what will happen

**BiscuitSlayer** · 03-27-2008, 07:26 PM

If you bump your phosphates and make sure your CO2 levels are good, it WILL go away. You do have to be a little careful as too much phospate can have negative impacts on some plants. The plant that I saw that didn't react that well to the boosted phospates was glossostigma. It didn't kill it but it did yellow it a bit and thin it out.

Raimeiken · 03-27-2008, 07:31 PM

is 1/4tsp 3x a week enough though? because usually I only put in 1/8 of a tsp 3x a week

Raimeiken · 03-27-2008, 07:38 PM

here's a pic of the tank. I scraped all the GSA off of the front glass and side. BUt you can still see it all over my anubias leaves and the back glass.

Trust me, the tank looks way better in person lol, im not good at taking pics and also the colors looked washed out in the pics compared in person.

**lauraleellbp** · 03-27-2008, 07:40 PM

I'd leave the T5s off completely- IMO the total lumens coming out of 96watts of T8's really should allow you to grow most anything you want anyways, especially dosing CO2...

You sure your CO2 equimpent is all functioning properly?

Raimeiken · 03-27-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

I'd leave the T5s off completely- IMO the total lumens coming out of 96watts of T8's really should allow you to grow most anything you want anyways, especially dosing CO2...

You sure your CO2 equimpent is all functioning properly?

yeah I made sure. All the connections are on tight, no leakage. It's a regulator from rex, plus his DIY reactor and my DIY bubble counter.

03-27-2008, 04:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
Raimeiken Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: May 2004 Location: glendale, arizona Posts: 250	Big GSA problem in my tank. How long will it take for it to go away? I read and research a lot around here and I know that cranking the Co2 and Phosphate is suppose to get rid of the GSA. But by how much? Im doing an IE dosage on my 50gal tank. Im putting 1/4 tsp now of phosphate 3x a week and I cranked the Co2 that my drop checker is turning yellow, but the fish and shrimps dont seem to be complaining. It's been a week or so now but I dont see much change. Last week my water got cloudy but I dont know what the cause was. Im thinking it might have been my over dosing of phosphate mixed with the nitrates in the tank and ammonia since the crap on the substrate got mixed around during the water change. So I ran a diatom filter to get rid of the cloudiness since it wasn'y going away after a few days. i was starting to think that it's GW. My water is clear now since the Diatom filter is still running, but Im still getting a lot of GSA. How long will it take before it starts reciding after cranking my phosphates and Co2 up?

03-27-2008, 05:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
mistergreen Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 2,397	it doesn't go away on it's own.. Once algae takes a hold, they'll stick around. You have to scrape it off the glass. __________________ Algae happens.

03-27-2008, 07:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 4,067	How much lighting is on this tank? __________________ Laura Lee; 10gal planted RCS colony, 46gal FW community w/ el plasticos, 90gal FW planted in progress- see my journal at http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

03-27-2008, 07:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
BiscuitSlayer Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Acworth, GA Posts: 1,490	If you bump your phosphates and make sure your CO2 levels are good, it WILL go away. You do have to be a little careful as too much phospate can have negative impacts on some plants. The plant that I saw that didn't react that well to the boosted phospates was glossostigma. It didn't kill it but it did yellow it a bit and thin it out. __________________ Filstar Pimp #106 29 Gallon Journal - XP2, 130W Coralife Fixture (10,000K and 6700K), Pressurized CO2, DIY Reactor, EI dosing Stand and Canopy Build Journal for a 75/90 (haven't made up my mind yet)

03-27-2008, 07:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 4,067	I'd leave the T5s off completely- IMO the total lumens coming out of 96watts of T8's really should allow you to grow most anything you want anyways, especially dosing CO2... You sure your CO2 equimpent is all functioning properly? __________________ Laura Lee; 10gal planted RCS colony, 46gal FW community w/ el plasticos, 90gal FW planted in progress- see my journal at http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

03-27-2008, 07:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Raimeiken Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: May 2004 Location: glendale, arizona Posts: 250	is 1/4tsp 3x a week enough though? because usually I only put in 1/8 of a tsp 3x a week

03-27-2008, 07:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Raimeiken Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: May 2004 Location: glendale, arizona Posts: 250	here's a pic of the tank. I scraped all the GSA off of the front glass and side. BUt you can still see it all over my anubias leaves and the back glass. Trust me, the tank looks way better in person lol, im not good at taking pics and also the colors looked washed out in the pics compared in person.

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