fighting algae...

[fullpampers]

i have algae building up on my plants. My clean up crew consists of 4 otos, 1 bristlenose, and 3 nerite snails (might get 2 more).

i took pictures because i am unsure what type of algae i have. My guess is brown hair algae and green algae. but i wanted to ask here because i am at a point where i am not going to upgrade my tank and i want to make this one better.

The fish community is not complete, but i removed some trouble makers to restore peace and serenity, and have a good idea where i am going for stocking. The barbs and dwarf loaches have been gone for about a week or two and already my Ram is coming out a lot more to see me, and his fins are regenerating really well. but that is besides the point.

I want to make my tank better. among other things, I'm looking into Co2 injection as i read it could help for algae.

but i want to identify the problem first.

so here are the pictures.

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The shots where taken before a clean up, so pardon the mess... And i do weekly 15 gal water changes with water i let sit in a tun for about a week (since the last WC). Water parameters are ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5 pH 7.2

I do not use any products in the tank. i think i have a sampler pack of excel/flourish/and another one to add iron to the water i think. I used it a little when my plants started dying but then i changed the substrate and the plants are doing fine, except for the algae. The substrate is Sphagnum moss, with sand over, and some gravel. I changed it about 8 or 10 months ago.

So what are my options? some plants i can take out and rinse in tank water, but the ones that are rooted i can't take out just to clean them. I tried to use a tooth brush, but around the edges of the plants it doesn't come off... Also i noticed that the algae build up is more concentrated on the leaves that are in the bubbles of the air pump. Not sure if this means anything.

I would really to have nice plants in the tank, and am starting to realize that plants are harder to keep than fish!

Can phosphates be a problem? I tried the phosguard pad in the filter before, and didn't see any change in the tank, so i stopped using it. I'm kind of reluctant to buy those things but i gave it a try anyway.

So that's about it, if anyone has an idea, any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

J-S.

[Brhino]

What lighting do you have, and how many hours a day do you leave it on?

[fullpampers]

i got two aqua glow 40 watts. i think it's the lowest i could go. i could try leaving just one on. i hadn't thought of that.... and it's on about 9-10 hours a day. i could try going 8 hours too...