GSP dying, help

[sigmachris]

I have a 14G BioCube with GSP that isn't doing too well. I have a problem with Nitrates, hair algae, and diatoms that I am currently battling. A few weeks ago the nitrates got as high at 50, but I have been doing 20% water changes every 3 days, put in a cleaner clam, and some chaeto 2 weeks ago. The nitrates are down to 20, but I am going to continue these water changes until I get them down to zero. I am even thinking about adding some Phosban this afternoon to help a little bit more in case I have phosphates too. They test out at zero, but the chaeto, diatoms, and hair algae probably are consuming them since they don't show up on the tests.
The rest of the specs:
10 month old tank
14 lbs LS, 18 lbs LR
1 clown, 1 royal gramma
6 Nass, 4 Turbos, 1 Cleaner shrimp, 1 Cleaner Clam, 6 blue legs, 2 red legs, 1 emerald
Run carbon once a month for 1 week
MaxiJect 1200
48 total watts of PC lighting
Temp - 80
Ammonia, nitrites - 0
Phosphates - 0 (but are probably there)
SG - 1.025 (hydrometer reading, asking for refractor for Xmas)
Calcium - 380 to 420
I had two problems that I believe are causing the GSP to melt. One was a layer of diatoms I allowed to sit on the mat of the GSP before figuring out what was wrong. I also added a hydroflo to the tank 2 months ago and that directed water flow on the GSP every 6 seconds. I have since removed the hydroflo so water flow is not going directly on the GSP.
Other corals, frogspawn, yellow polyps, clove polyps, various mushrooms. These corals are doing fine, not growing much in the last month, but definetly not melting or dying like the GSP.
So there is an explanation of the tank...the GSP seems to be melting, but there are a few patches that still open up just not as open as in previous months. What should I do?
1) Toss the GSP I've have and start over? Is the melting GSP causing more nitrates / phosphates to be introduced to the tank?
2) Cut out the rim of the GSP that seems to be melting and hope the center that still opens up survives?
3) Leave it as is there is a chance it could pull through?
As always any help is appreciated,
Chris

 

[earlybird]

I can't answer a lot of your questions but my GSP loves direct flow. Try putting the hydor flow back on. Can you get a picture? Along the edges of my gsp I guess I could describe it as melting but in fact it is spreading. Not sure if you are experiencing the same thing.

 

[sigmachris]

I can't post a picture until I get home from work at 6.00 PM EST. It is definetly retreating though. I purchased the GSP 6 months ago when it was maybe 3 x 3". I put it on a flat circular shaped rock that was maybe 5 x 5". The GSP grew to cover the whole rock, plus it grew over to another rock. Now the GSP has retreated back from the main circular rock so it is definetly shrinking / melting. There are some edges of the mat that have released itself from the rock on one end and is suspended in the water, but still holding onto the rock via the other end of the mat. I have cut the bridge that the mat was making to the other rock and moved the main rock higher in the tank. The little 1" x 1" that crossed over to the other rock is doing OK but not shrinking and not growing, but there are polyps popping out for light.

 

[braydonosu]

I'm not really sure of the exact problem going on, but the same thing happened in my small (12 gal) setup. I chalked the die-off of my usually indestructible GSP's to the constant battle between me and nitrates. All of my parameters were fine except for my nitrates that always seemed to be between 20 and 40 ppm. I upgraded to a 40 breeder tank and my stars are doing great. If you can keep on top of the water changes and regular maintenance than the small tanks can work...... unfortunately I didn't have the time to be that dedicated.

 

[sigmachris]

Bump - help please...I just tested everything and phosphates was through the roof at 0.1 to 0.25. I will be adding Phosguard tonight...I have a question about Phosguard in the New Hobbist forum.
Other tests
1.026 SG
80 temp
Calcium 340 low will supplement
Alk 10.9
pH 8.2
nitrates - 20 to 30
nitrites and ammonia - 0

 

[mcbdz]

Do you have a protein skimmer. If no may help. How old are your light bulbs and what are they. I had to change my pc and t5's at 9 months?

 

[sigmachris]

Stock lighting, which is 24 watt 10,oooK and 24 watt 50/50 actintic. I think I listed them correctly, but yes they are do for a change. They are 9 months old so due for a change.

 

[flricordia]

Just my suggestion before even going any further is to remove your livestock, give it to a friend with an established tank to hold or back to the LRS, and recycle or finish cycling your tank.
Turn off the lights and let the tank go with no water changes for at the least a month. Then do a 20% water change, and tunr the lights on 1/2 light cycle, the after another 2 weeks start to slowly add livestock. That is a small tank and without a sump and fuge you are going to have problems, especially without the tank matureing properly.
But as I said, just my suggestion and if you want to rush such a small tank, expect problems, there is no magic involved with reef keeping, just patience.
But since you have already commited to some corals and fish there is something else you can do, use a great product along with your water changes, but I can't list a link here but if you PM me I will give it to you.

 

[sigmachris]

PM sent
This tank is 10 months old, its not like I skipped the cycle. I did a proper 4 week cycle in Feb. 2007. This GSP flourished for 6 months before it starting to melt.

 

[flricordia]

I did reread your post slower this time. I thought you were saying the algaes were taking the GSP over was the reason they were dieing.
I have seen even a very small amount of nusaince algae to get the best of GSP, but the good news is is that they can bouce right back after the algae are under control. Though GSP are tough in some ways, not in others. I have some in my ricordia tank that keep popping up from some time back. Seems jsut as I think I have irradicated the last of them, a new clump appears.
Best of luck and hope they rebound for you.