[IceH2O]

I finally caved in and bought a phosphate test and checked my water.

Tap .75 ppm

55 gallon tank somewhere between 2ppm and 5 ppm closer to 5ppm though as it had more of a blue tint.

75 gallon same as the 55 but a bit less blue.

Now the 55 is planted but mostly slow growing plants like anabuis and crypts. The 75 is heavily planted with fast growing stems and a few slow growers.

I did dose phosphates last week, 55 gallon got 1 ml and the 75 got 2 ml of fleet. I have since done a 50% water change and not added back.

I don't have a GSA problem in the 55 gallon but I do in the 75 gallon, thus the reason I bought the test.

Why would a tank with so much phosphate still have GSA?

Granted its not bad, just on the anabuis and the sides of the tank I can't reach to scrape. Also on one cave decoration but I like it there as it looks more natural.

1.75 wpg on both tanks, Excel in both tanks and EI dosing.

 

[mistergreen]

what's your nitrate?

and just lower your photo period an hour or 2.

 

[IceH2O]

I keep the nitrates at 20 ppm.

I was running 12 hrs on the lights but knocked it down to 8-9 hours last week.

 

[mistergreen]

your tank will always have a little GSA... you have a healthy tank that's all... 8-9 hours is good to control GSA. I have my lights on a timer... I've recently been playing with 7.5 hours.

 

[crazy loaches]

I have given up on anubias, seems to be quite difficult to keep algae free. I also dont have GSA on any other thing but the anubias (and some of the older sword leaves).

 

[Avalon]

GSA with adequate P and N would indicate low CO2. Try raising it a little and see if that helps.

To keep anubias clean, use either low light or keep them shaded by other plants. They will still gather a little bit of algae, but it's tolerable. Some folks can keep theirs under high light, but they typically have a very specific method of maintaining their tank, suited specifically for that tank.