Stringy Algae?

[grue]

This stuff is driving me crazy. It grows super fast. I can pull it off my plants, but a couple days later, it's back.

http://mrfunk.smugmug.com/photos/449535340_6AFaK-M.jpg

Nitrites/nitrates/ammonia are all 0.

-I don't believe I overfeed. I feed once a day and sometimes skip a day.
-I've been putting some Excel in there as I thought that would help.
-The other plants look good and are growing fine (java moss, anachris, anubias, sword).
-Fluorite substrate.
-~100Watts of lighting over my 40gallon low, on from 11am-9pm each day
-Have had this tank since about 99, but replanted it about 4 months ago.
-I do a 20-25% WC weekly

Any tips on getting rid of it? I'm thinking about trying to cut back the hours on the lighting a little since I am getting some algae on the tank as well.

Thanks!
Thomas

[Bk828]

The algae is Spirogrya
definitely reduce your lighting to 8hrs.
So besides the recent addition of excel, you are not giving the tank any co2??
Do you dose ferts?

[grue]

The algae is Spirogrya
definitely reduce your lighting to 8hrs.
So besides the recent addition of excel, you are not giving the tank any co2??
Do you dose ferts?

Ok, changed it to 1-9. I'll see how that goes.
No CO2 or ferts.

[Bk828]

you have lot of light over the tank for it to not have co2/ferts. Look into the diy method or do more balanced excel dosing. This algae is tricky since it thrives in the same conditions that the plants thrive under. Ive seen one site suggest a blackout for this algae but not sure how it will work. Im actually starting to get this algae as well, might give the blackout a try.

[grue]

I did DIY CO2 a while back and it worked out well. I'm just a little bit lazy for that now ;) I was looking into a pressurized system, but decided not to for now ($$$). Perhaps I'll reconsider the DIY.

Thanks for the reply.

[Bk828]

I did DIY CO2 a while back and it worked out well. I'm just a little bit lazy for that now ;) I was looking into a pressurized system, but decided not to for now ($$$). Perhaps I'll reconsider the DIY.

Thanks for the reply.

pressurized would be a great choice but understand about the initial payment. Could be high at first but the plant growth will be amazing with it.

So for now try the following
pick out what ever strands you can manually, cover the tank up completely and do a blackout for 2-3 days. Then uncover, do a water change and see if theres a difference in algae.
Then set up the diy co2