Green water again!

[beviking]

What the H is going on? I can't figure it out. I've been keeping NO3~5ppm, PO4 readable~.2ppm, Fe-.1ppm, adding KCl to target of 16-20ppm (figuring KNO3 dose). I tried boosting NO3 to 10ppm, PO4 to 1ppm. I've tried cutting light back to 10 hrs. I replaced some older bulbs, cut back on lighting, changed water every other day (50%). The tank (90gal) has 5 Praecox Rainbows, 1 Betta, 7 Ottos, 1 Farlowella, 1 SAE, 6 Amano shrimp. The fish and plants are doing well, unfortunately, the water keeps getting green. Each time I change something, I try it for a week. Any suggestions?
I've tried a 4 day blackout before but it wreaked havoc on my glosso so I'd like to avoid that. This week, I cut the lighting back (I had 4 T8 Zoomed bulbs overdriven). I first cut it back by running 2 normal, now I'm running all 4 normal.
As for feeding, only a few granules (Tetramin) every other day.
Should I just let it go for a week or two keeping up target nutrient levels?
Back to back water changes? I even looked at chemical treatments the other day

Tank Specs:
90 gallon Perfecto tank(48" X 18" X 25")

Equipment
Filstar XP3 (Ceramic rings, sponges,Bio-mate balls, fine filter floss)
Rena Cal Top Light Excel 300W Heater
DIY stained and finished hood: 4 ODNO-T8 Bulbs (1Tropic-Sun, 1-Flora-Sun, 2 Ultra-Sun)
DIY stained and finished stand: 2X4 frame, 3/4" Maple Plywood Skin, Maple Trim
5 lb. CO2/USGeneral regulator/Clippard MNV-2 needle valve/DIY In-tank reactor

Decor
Black Background (Painted)
Seachem Onyx Sand (dusting of peat moss below)
Fake stump, hollow log
Malaysian driftwood log w/3 java ferns
Malaysian driftwood "cave" w/Anubia heterophylla

Inhabitants
CURRENTLY REINTRO STOCK...
7 Otocinclus
1 Farlowella Catfish
6 Amano Shrimp
1 SAE
5 Praecox Rainbows
1 Betta
Malaysian Trumpet, Ramshorn, and Pond Snails
(Local LFS gives credit for returned fish - The above list is subject to change. )

Plants
~40 Asia Ambulia stems
~20 Stargrass stems
~10 Anubia nana
~16 Anacharis stems
~10 Corkscrew Vals
~10Crypts (reddish-brown)
1 Amazon Sword
3 Tropica Sword
~30 Sunset Hygro stems
~8 E. tennelus
Glosso carpet in foreground

Water Chemistry
Ph - 6.8 gh - 11 kh - 8, ammonia - 0, nitrite - 0,
nitrate - 5-10ppm, temp -76
winter, 78 summer

 

[Blinky]

I can tell you what worked in my tank...
It took a few weeks to fully disappear, but once my plants' growth took off and I added enough nutrients (I try to keep NO3 ~10ppm and PO4 ~1ppm) the algae went away. I had tried starving it out, but nothing worked until I realized I needed to (against my better judgement at the time, lol) increase the nutrients so the plants could take off and out-compete it.

 

[daveedka]

If blackouts are out, Then the next best bet would be a diaton filter or a UV sterilizer. both are expensive, but both work. The problem with green water is that once it starts, it never goes away until killed. Once killed then you can work on causes and prevent it from returning.
Dave

 

[djlen]

What is your water's gH?
I'm looking at your posted picture of your tank. Overall picture looks great, however when I look at some of your individual plant pictures it, IMO is too sparsely planted. By that I mean that the coverage is good, but it's lacking in mass.
You've planted individual stems which gives the illusion of filling the tank, but I don't think that there are enough plants in the tank.
When I prune and replant my stems, I take each stem that's over 10 - 12 inches and cut it into 3rds and plant at least 5 stems together. This forces me to continue to propagate to get more coverage and increases plant mass.
If you like the single stem planting that's fine, but I don't think your mass is adequate. Hope you won't take this as criticism, because I think the tank looks very nice.
I would work to increase mass, keep up the water changes, and with your fish load, push the KNO3 up to 1.5 - 2.0 and the P to 1.5 (both gradually as plant mass increases). You would probably then need minimal or no KCl.
One other question. I don't see your overall, total wattage posted. That doesn't mean it's not there.......I just don't see it(and you know how old I am). So humor me and post that as well.
Extra gadgets will 'kill' the algae, but aren't necessary once the tank reaches it's balance point.

Len

 

[beviking]

Thanks for the replies.
gh-11
The single stem planting is an old pic. I now plant 4-5 stems together. The wattage is 4-32watt bulbs(T8's). As stated, I use 2 4bulb ballasts but was running 2bulbs on each (overdriving them). I don't know the exact wattage that would be, but for now its 128watts, which with T12 bulbs would be 160watts but the T8 put out more light so maybe its ~2wpg? I just lowered the light to this point 2 days ago. So far, the green is stable but still there.

One other point, we have a ceiling fan/light near the tank (above and in front of) that has 300w of light. I've been covereing the front of the tank at night when the lights in the tank are out.

 

[djlen]

Light from the ceiling fan will have minimal, if any effect on the tank, IMO.
It would help if you can post a recent picture of the tank.
I think you need to get the N up and probably the P as well.

Len

 

[beviking]

Here you go...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/66733948/216838287QLrErh
The stargrass is in the back left corner, next to it is some taller anacharis. The right front corner has corkscrew val which is still short.
I know it's a terrible pic. I'm going to change some water now so if it isn't what you need, I can repost a pic. I think I'll do some trimming too!
After ~60%water change...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/66733948/216899093uAWbtj
here's the right side...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/66733948/216900082pBUjNS
here's the left side...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/66733948/216901603mCKaMy