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What does the algae look like? Is it wooly/fluffy or slimy? Does it smell if you rub it between your fingers?

Just come across this thread and to me the algae doesn't look "slimy" enough for BGA. Does it smell?

I'd just thought I'd mention something that occurred to me a while ago. There seems to be a lot of "I keep getting a little algae X in my tank, what am I doing wrong?" type questions around and it occurred to me that some algae is completely normal and natural. Obviously I'm not talking about a...

I just thought I'd mention as well that your filters sound much like trickle filters. Although very good biologically they tend to drive off alot of the CO2 in the water which may explain that even your DIY CO2 isn't being used as well as it could. I'd also reiterate that adding stress zyme...

Regarding the use of test kits, all the magazines (there did use to be more than one) kept reiterating that every good fishkeeper bought loads of test kits and tested every few days so they knew the exact state of their water. I'm sure I did this when I started but to to laziness and being a bit...

Just my tuppence on BGA.... When I had an outbreak it was caused by my filter clogging up to a trickle and me not doing anything about it (don't ask, let's just say life got in the way). It was horrible, the smell was horrendous. Everyime I cleaned it up my hand stunk of it for 24 hours. Even...

Seems I got a little confused myself! I forgot that Excel has Flourish on the bottle!

I think you're getting a little confused. A company called Seachem make both Flourish and Excel. Flourish is a plant fertiliser whereas Excel is a carbon source (as you mention). People seem to have had good results with it (and it's algae beating properties) but I must admit to not being that...

I think it's important to realise that we will never eliminate algae growth, it will always be there. What we are trying to do is reduce it to unnoticeable levels by the use of careful management and fish/inverts. Hence the use of ottos and japonica shrimps by Mr Amano. I read something...

Poor CO2? This is in relation to the amount of light, correct?

As an additional comment regarding lighting, I've got a twin 54w T5 controller (not compact though) and have two 35" T5 tubes plugged in. I think these are 36w are thereabouts. I haven't seen any problem with this and it's been running for about 2 or 3 months now.

I'd be interested if there's an outcome to this. Has it cleared?

If using sand, wouldn't there be high levels of silica all the time? Maybe the sand grains get covered with bacteria and so slow the leaching of silicates into the water.

it would seem from reports that it's only bad on vallis if you overdoe or pour it drectly onto leaves. I use Excel and I have to remove vallis continually, in fact I'm considering removing all of it as it's taking over the tank and I can't keep up! I only dose Flourish trace and Excel, no CO2.

Could you get some and have a look under a microscope?

I had pink tinges to the edges of the leaves on my H. polysperma at the top of the plant and I had quite high nitrate. I put it down to the greater quantity of light reaching those leaves.