Massive Amounts Of Hair Algae

[bassbonediva]

Hi all. I have a planted 55gal tank with pool filter sand substrate, 8 swords plants (couple different varieties, including amazon sword), 1 anubias (not sure which variety) and 1 java fern. My java fern is tied to a large piece of driftwood (approximately 3 feet in length) that arches from one side of the tank to almost the other. I have a 96W Current NOVA T5 fixture on the tank with one 48W white bulb (not sure the exact specs...I bought it off Craigslist from a lady for $75) and one 48W actinic bulb. I know actinic is debated on whether or not it is good for plants, but all my plants have new growth on them and none of my swords melted, so I think it's fine. I am not running CO2 on this tank as of yet (working on a DIY setup).

My problem is that I'm having to remove MASSIVE amounts of hair algae from my java fern. None of my other plants are affected by it, just the java fern. I have a bristlenose pleco, an otocinclus catfish and a zebra nerite snail in the tank to help with algae, but none of them will touch the hair algae. The only fish in that tank that kind of picks at the hair algae is my dwarf gourami (who is going away soon). Is the java fern the only one affected because it is the closest to the light? What can I do about it? Will the CO2 help with the algae? Thanks!

Here's the tank, minus the algae and plus two large swords behind the piece of driftwood on the left! lol

 

[Too Fast]

Have a read on here http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

Hope this is of some help. Failing that I'm sure someone with far more knowlege than me will offer some advice soon.

 

[bassbonediva]

Hmmmm...so according to that link, it can be solved basically by adding CO2 and dosing with ferts. I thought as much. Thanks!