Hi Mervin,
I just came back from work, so only saw your posts now...
Thanks for the photographs – they helped a lot. From what I can see, you have a selection of different types of algae. But not to panic! :)As I said, identification is 50% of success. All of these algae types have their causes but what is common between them is: 1) CO2 levels in your tank water and 2) flow and distribution and 3) possible “mini-cycles”.
Without bothering you with a detailed explanation of the things behind my advice (too much to write and it will make the whole post far too much to take in), I will tell you what I would do:
- Lighting regime: 3 hours to start, 4 hours “siesta” (during the time when there is ambient light available (e.g. day time), 3-4 hours period of light (for consistency, the lights in your tank have to go off and back on after the “siesta” during the day time – say, lights on from 9 am to 12:00 noon, lights off from 12 noon till 4 pm, lights on from 4 pm till 8 pm)
- Stop hoovering the substrate completely (that is, if you have a LARGE area of unplanted substrate, you can hoover only this area – NOT pushing the tube too much down (only a centimetre or so down , if you really cannot bear it without hovering). What you can do instead is to use the tube to hoover just about the surface (0.5 cm) collecting any loose particles.
- Water changes: 30% but once a week. Ideally, you need to prepare the water beforehand: pour it into buckets (if you have enough of them - but even half of “prepared” water is good). Leave the buckets at least overnight or – even better - for 24 hours before using for a water change. Overdose with your dechlorinator (2-3 times but it really does not matter as long as you overdose)
- Clean the glass just before the water change. Optional: the elements of decor you can easily remove, can be cleaned in aquarium water with a new cheap toothbrush (just pour some water into a bucket or any other container you use for the tank only, clean with the brush, “wiggle” to rinse and put back into the tank) – when you do the water changes, before you cleaned the glass and before you took the water out to replace. If the decor is not easy to remove and place back – please, don’t bother doing it.
- Continue dosing the nutrients as you did before
- Water flow: I need some more info on this – what is your filter? Do you use a spray bar or the water from the filter comes out of a “nozzle”? Please, let me know. In any case – push the spray bar or the nozzle BELOW water surface about 2 inches.
This is a start. I cannot guarantee that this will work 100% (every single tank is different and what works for one does not work for another) – however, I think this is the right way to go for your tank. The algae will not go overnight but it should decrease slowly but steadily. When this period is over, you will be able to increase lighting. (I cannot predict for how long it will take, though – all depends on how well your tank responds).
Apart from your water flow, ideally, it would be helpful to know your tap water parameters (sorry again if you mentioned it already and I missed the post!).