Problem with Green Spot Algae in Planted Tank

[888]

Hi, my aquarium grows green spot algae very quickly all over the glass and even on to fast growing plants such as water sprite. My aquarium is a 2 ft, ~40cm deep tank lighted with 2 x T5 super sun lights. I do CO2 fertilization, 1 bubble in 2 seconds. I've tried adding Seachem Flourish Phosphates, and nerite snails, but the GSA keep on growing. Please help!

[Jon-san]

What is your lighting on duration?

[FanAromatic]

Put more plant to cover the area that grow GSA, reduce the lighting period. Oh.. you can remove them by using 6" ruler. Also use eachem Flourish Excel.

[888]

I've tried dosing phosphates, reducing the light duration to 7 hours, and doing weekly water changes, but the GSA still grows extremely quickly. It grows on my plants too, so it would not help to shield the aquarium with plants

is ur tank exposed to natural sunlight?

[peanut8787]

Usually i remove them once a week when i do my wc. Are you plant mass very little?

[888]

Just an update in case someone else faces the same problem with GSA. After looking through many forums and articles and trying various methods on my tank, I've finally managed to eradicate most of the GSA in my tank.

1) I reduced the number of hours of lighting in my tank to slightly less than 7 hours.

2) I made sure my tank doesn't get any direct sunlight.

3) I used an adaptation of Tom Barr's fertilization regime, which involved fertilizing more than the plants needs then changing 50% of the water at the end of the week, plus dosed extra phosphates.

4) Some of the plants grew large and overshadowed the light, which gave time for the other plants to be established, so that they could outcompete the algae even after I trimmed back the plants.

I still get a tiny bit of GSA on the glass, which I clean off every week, but now my tank is so much better without the GSA, which previously grew not only on the glass, but also on the plants.