No the photos I put up aren't fake plants, they're real, I've tried rubbing it off, but it's not coming off or bits I do get off are small.. A Chinese algae eater isn't an option as I used to have one, he got to 4 inches and started getting aggressive so had to regime him. I have two bristle nose plecos, they don't really eat it, I did a 50% water change yesterday, will go and see what I can find to remove phosphate, I'll just have to wait it out, thanks