Black Brush Algae

[brentling]

So I have read everything I can find on Black Brush Algae and am still not quite sure what to do... I have it on my powerhead, covering my driftwood and on several plant leaves including some new Alternanthera reineckii that's been in the tank less than a week. This is my 29 gallon Amazon tank (pics in the gallery). It has a fairly heavy fish load. I am currently using a powerhead with UG filter (I know...) 2 x 18 Watt GE Aquarium & Plant (pink) T8s 12 hours per day. pH ~7.2, GH=220ppm ish, kH=70ppm ish, Ammonia=0, Nitrites=0, Nitrates~5.0. I am dosing Seachem Flourish per directions 2-3 x/week, no other ferts right now. I feed once per day. Water changes about 25% every 2/3 weeks as needed. The fish are thriving and my Rams keep breeding (Angles are acting like it too). The cardinal tetras and Rummynose are thriving (I use these as indicator fish like the canary in the coal mine). Plants include Amazon swords (thriving), Red Rubin swords (thriving), Corkscrew Valisneria (best I've ever grown it), Mayaca fluviatilis (dying badly & ready to remove it) & the aforementioned Alternanthera reineckii which seems fine but only in the tank for a week.

Suggestions I have read include:
1. Pull everything out and bleach it
2. Remove all leaves w/ BBA
3. 3 day blackout
4. Add Excel
5. Dose with Hydrogen Peroxide
6. Add SAEs
7. Add tons of fast growing plants
8. Reduce ferts
9. Increase ferts
10. Increase light
11. Reduce light
12. enjoy the filaments "dancing in the current"

13. Add Amano shrimp
14. Lots of water changes
15. No water changes
16. Etc. I lost track

Any specific suggestions? I have a tendency to try shotgun approaches to problems and am afraid if I do too much I'll mess things up more. The tank was a bit crazy at first, but has settled down and thriving with the exception of the BBA. I did buy a bottle of Excel tonight and think I may try that, but it worries me. I don't like chemicals.

 

[Bk718]

I would reduce the stock
dose less flourish (1 time a week)
do water changes 50% weekly to get rid of any nutrients plants didnt use
And reduce photoperiod to 10hrs for now.

Excel should help but wave bye bye to your val

 

[inkyjenn]

im trying out peroxide on what ive got. the bba i have hasnt spread beyond my anubias too much, and since ive improved the lighting and the balance of nutrients in my 55, it doesnt seem to be getting worse. but its not going away on its own either. i bought 3% peroxide and dipped the infested leaves and let it soak for 5 minutes or so and replanted without rinsing. the algae is now cherry red 2 days later and it seems to be all of the algae thats changing color.