algae issue cant seem to get a hold on

[lipadj46]

I have the same above my 55 gallon (about 5" above the surface) but the difference is that I am hi tech. I would get a piece or two of window screen and put that between your light and surface. Also I would bump up the water changes to once a week if you can until you have everything figured out. Also drop your photo period down to 4 hours until you have things sorted out. Other than that just keep cleaning the black brush algae out as best you can, cut off leaves that are too far covered. One proactive thing you can do as a stop gap measure is to treat the tank with excel (you can get gallons of metricide 14 for way cheaper than excel) work up to the full dose over a week or two and even dose heavier if your fish can take it. Also get a syringe and some hydrogen peroxide and treat the bba directly (turn off filters while doing this and move your fish to a holding tank do a large water change after). For the gda and diatoms just leave them be and it will go away in a few weeks.

As for plants stick with slow growers like java ferns and anubias they will not strip the nutrients from your water column as quickly.

 

[moneysink]

I have the same above my 55 gallon (about 5" above the surface) but the difference is that I am hi tech. I would get a piece or two of window screen and put that between your light and surface. Also I would bump up the water changes to once a week if you can until you have everything figured out. Also drop your photo period down to 4 hours until you have things sorted out. Other than that just keep cleaning the black brush algae out as best you can, cut off leaves that are too far covered. One proactive thing you can do as a stop gap measure is to treat the tank with excel (you can get gallons of metricide 14 for way cheaper than excel) work up to the full dose over a week or two and even dose heavier if your fish can take it. Also get a syringe and some hydrogen peroxide and treat the bba directly (turn off filters while doing this and move your fish to a holding tank do a large water change after). For the gda and diatoms just leave them be and it will go away in a few weeks.

As for plants stick with slow growers like java ferns and anubias they will not strip the nutrients from your water column as quickly.

I currently have two anubias in my tank as they are the only plant that hasnt died off completely, they seem to be doing alright but I have to constantly clean brown crud (Diatoms?) off the leaves.
I will try the window screen idea but I am still curious about what my light level should be. is two 48 inch T5s too much light at a foot above the tank? its a big tank at 210 gallons I figuered if anything it was to little but I obviously dont know jack about growing plants givin the only things still living are the Anubias lol

 

[lipadj46]

I currently have two anubias in my tank as they are the only plant that hasnt died off completely, they seem to be doing alright but I have to constantly clean brown crud (Diatoms?) off the leaves.
I will try the window screen idea but I am still curious about what my light level should be. is two 48 inch T5s too much light at a foot above the tank? its a big tank at 210 gallons I figuered if anything it was to little but I obviously dont know jack about growing plants givin the only things still living are the Anubias lol

No I don't think that is too much light though they are high output so the watts per gallon rule does not apply. Your fixture is probably equivalent to a 250ish watt normal output flourescent light. The diatoms and green dust algae should subside after a few weeks after things equilibrate a bit. The bba is going to be your problem your best bet is to reduce the light, pick of the large chunks, try to spot treat it with H2O2 and use excel to try to kill it. Try that for the next few weeks and see how the growth trends. If it is still growing you willl either have to nuke the tank, do a blackout or try to figure out what your imbalance is and fertilize appropriately