Algae A Bit Out Of Control

[This Old Spouse]

Here's my poor 55g that has high lighting. You can see the algae covering the plants. I've had a number of suggestions, but I'd like to get a fresh perspective. I don't run CO2 (yet). 
 

 

 

 

[This Old Spouse]

Here's a closeup:
 

 

[Ps3Steveo]

There is a mix of algae's there, what size is the tank, what lph is your filter and what lighting do you have?

 

[This Old Spouse]

It's a 55g, canister filter 500 gph, plus a power head, and the lighting is high (sorry, I'm not up on my lighting stats). 

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Any chance you could find out wattage?

 

[This Old Spouse]

Looks like 4X65 watts, total 260 watts. Here's a link to the one I have: http/www.directaquarium.com/Coralife-Lunar-Aqualight-Compact-4X65w-48in-p/11026.htm

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Wow!!! I'd drop that by 3/4 or this will continue happening, or, get some pressurised CO2 and full ferts. guessing it was previously a marine set up as that's a whole lot of lighting. With high light the plants will use up all the nutrients quicker, once they're depleted the plants will suffer cell breakdown which causes the algae. Also are you doing water changes with lights on? Tap water has a high concentration of dissolved CO2, this gives a boost then dies off, that's the reason for the black furry algae (Black Brush Algae).

 

[This Old Spouse]

Yes, I do water changes with the lights on. Weird, because I just saw this suggestion on another thread for the first time EVER. Had no idea. Should be interesting, since the tank is in a dark location.
 
I'm still working my way up to a CO2 system. I'm broke right now and trying to figure out a way.
 
I'm thinking about changing to a soil substrate under the sand this summer. Would that be a good idea?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Could do but with your lighting as high as it is your not gonna get rid of the algae.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Would it be a good idea to get some duckweed? Shouldn't that "shade" the rest of the plants a bit and keep the algae at bay?

 

[DrRob]

Floating plants will shade things. However, to be honest, I'd probably just turn 2 of them off.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I can't just turn 2 of them off, unfortunately. This is all one light setup. I'm trying to figure out a way to shade them somehow. As it is, I'm not turning on the light at all in the morning, just in the evening. I've disconnected my DIY CO2 as I figure it's not consistent enough to do any good. I used to feed twice a day, and I've now cut that down to once a day. I'm also going to start doing w/c twice a week to see if that helps.

 

[DrRob]

Interesting. The page you linked to stated separate switches for all lights.
 
You could always take some bulbs out instead.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Not really. There are 4 light sets: 2 sets of blue, and 2 sets of white, laid end to end. The "sets" are kind of a double tube. If I took one set out then only half my tank would be lit. 
 
Okay ... so what I just did was unplug one set of white lights and moved the other one toward the middle of the hood. Kind of odd looking, but I guess it will have to do for the time being. 

 

[This Old Spouse]

Looking like I have some good news. After trimming the heck out of the algae-infested plants, reducing my lighting as stated above, cutting the feeding in half as well as the lighting time, it looks like I have no algae growth! I took one of the planted pieces of driftwood out of the 55g and put it in the 29g, and the anubia has sprouted 2 new leaves that are completely algae free. In that tank I've cut the feeding and lighting in half as well. The tiger barbs are none too please with me (they'd eat 24/7 until they burst if allowed) but the tank is looking much nicer with new growth and no additional algae. The 55g looks much healthier with new growth. I'm still picking off the BBA when I can, but there is no new growth of it. 
 
Thank you all for your help!