Algea

[Fishboy1981]

About 3 weeks increased the lighting on my 180g tank to about 160w and now a brown film looking algea has bloomed on everything. I have reduced the light by 2 hr now from 11am-9pm and it hasent slowed down water conditions are great 0% Ammonia, nitrite, nitrates and phos. I have been vacumming, scrubbing it off and doing water changes and it is still growing. It is even growing on my live plants killing them. I have about 6 amazon swords I tried rubbing the stuff off but cant get it all off and now it is coming back on them. Why would a live plant allow algae to grow on it you would think they would have some type of immune defense or something against this. Any ideas on how to get rid of it?
Thanks

 

[Themuleous]

Algae is typically due to poor plant growth. With no P and N int he water the plants will be struggling. Can I suggest you read the estimative index article at the top of the planted forum. With you lighting you'll need to be adding ferts, probably daily.

Sam