Hard Algae in Freshwater Tank

[Jennifer59]

Hey guys! So I'm new to this forum and would like some advice. I've been keeping freshwater tanks for a while now and never have I had an algae problem like I do now. I'm having an algae problem, hard algae on the glass, the fake driftwood, bubble wand, everything. The drift wood doesn't bother me so much just the glass does. I have to go over with the mag float multiple times to get it off the glass, and then it just comes back a few days later. I have a bristle nose pleco (about 2.5 inches) and a couple ottos to help with this algae. I do have life plants, no fake plants, some dwarf grass, taller grass ( can't remember the name) some round plant (again can't remember the name) and a Marino moss ball,it's a community tank. I don't believe that I am over feeding. I feed hikari micro pellets, fluval tropical flakes, API bottom feeder pellets, and hikari blood worms once a week ( I dethaw the frozen worms, drain the water, and divide them between my tanks.) I have the fluval aqua clear 40-70 gallon filter (it had the foam filter, carbon, clearmax, amd biomax in it), a 14 inch led bubble wall and a T5 coralife light. I just bought a fluval heater that I'm debating on whether I should put it in. I The lights stay on for maybe 8 hours a day and I've tried a black out. I have no idea what else I could do. I was told to get some stability to add bacteria and that didn't seem to do anything, then I was told to use the clearmax to reduce the phosphates. I have no nitrates, no ammonia, neutral ph, soft water, no nitrites.
Sorry this is so long but help/advice would be wonderful! Oh and it's a 56 gal

 

[freckles]

You can use a plastic spackling knife or a razor blade (be careful not to scratch the tank with it) to get the stuff off easier.

After doing a little research, it seems this problem is due to either too much light or too many nutrients. If the tank is near a window, you might try moving it to a darker location; if not, reduce the number of hours you have the light on every day. You could also try increasing how much water you change during a water change to try to reduce whatever excess nutrient is causing the problem.

 

[Rivercats]

Is the algae hard round circular spots? If so that is green spot algae. This often occurs in low phosphate levels, low CO2 levels, and low flow/current in the tank. Leaving lighting on too long is another reason. Is the tank planted? Try running lighting only 6 hours daily, increase water flow in the tank by maybe adding a small powerhead, and if planted up phosphates to 3ppm. You can easily scrape it off with a razor blade or often a credit card works (but don't do this on an acrylic tank). Nerite snails are the only algae eater that has the ability to scrape it off.