Algae Everywhere!

[DiddleBug]

I have a 10 gallon planted tank which has gotten so green everywhere i can hardly keep up!  The water is clean and tests fine.  I have no fish at the moment and I use Leaf Zone for the fert.  It's sand-not gravel.  The plants i have are java fern, anubias, and a small type of crypt. 'm thinking of going back to plastic plants because my tank is a mess and I've kept everything as clean as I can and even lowered the hours of light to 1-2 hrs.  Help please?!

 

[JoshyJosh]

What is your temperature set at?

 

[DiddleBug]

75F.

 

[SO19Firearms]

Lowering your lights was the right thing to do. But that's unlikely to kill the algae you have. Best to identify the algae and address it's cause. But safe to assume in a tank with no fish leafzone is lacking the essential Nitrate and Phosphate for healthy plants.....
 
 
IMO

 

[DiddleBug]

Would it be better to stop using ferts?  My plants are fairly basic....

Oh, and it kind of looks like black brush algae.  Although mine is not hairy like that-i don't let it get very long or anything i guess. 

 

[SO19Firearms]

Would it be better to stop using ferts?

Not if you don't want algae. Sick plants cause algae.

 

[DiddleBug]

Hmmm... so you think I need better ferts ect..? I had talked to you about using Tropica before.  Would this fix my problems?  Because I've spent WAY too much money on my tanks already. 

 

[SO19Firearms]

Tropica would be ideal. If you clean your algae up first and continue to dose Tropica whilst keeping a low light you should be in better shape going forward....
 
 
IMO

 

[DiddleBug]

Ok... I'll see if I can get some.   Thanks for the advice!