What is this stuff and how do I fix it?

This is my first time posting here so my apologies if I put this in the wrong section. I have a 45G with the following spec.


Ammonia and Nitrite obviously o


Nitrate: 0.5


PH : 7.8


GH: 6 Degrees


KH: 3 Degrees


Phosphorous : 0.5-1 ppm (using API test kit and it was hard to tell exactly which it was)


Using a Finnex Planted + with 8 hours of lighting a day (2 on, 4 off, 3 on, 3 off, 3 on,) Yes I know some of you think staggering lights wont reduce algae but Im just scared of algae


No Co2


5 ml of excel EVERYDAY when lights are off


5 ml of Seachem Flourish ONCE per week after water changes


1/4 spoon of Bacter AE once a week


3 Otocinclus


~50 cherry shrimp


1 Siamese Algae Eater


4 German Blue Rams


I cant seem for the life of me get rid of this dark green spots on my leaves. They arent on all the leaves but some of them. I THINK its Green Spot Algae but I hear that if your keep your phosphate levels at a 10:1 ratio with nitrate then it should be okay, which mine are. I also have a bit of BBA growth on some of my java fern. Nothing crazy, just really small tidy specs. Id LOVE for all my plants to be lush and green like the new Anubias leaves that are in the picture. Do any of you know why some of my leaves are such a nasty dark green and how to get rid of it? Does Bacter AE create this stuff Green Spot Algae?


Thanks so much for your help

 

Do you use CO2? Im just afraid if I boost my Phosphate without CO2 Im going to get BBA or something

 

Well it use to be at 12 hrs straght. But now its 8 and staggered. Should I lower to 6 ?

 

The distance from my substrate to my light is 17". Im using a Current USA Satellite + which according to their own website gives off 28 PAR at 18". So if anything I have around that. It is running at 100% however when I do run the lights.


In response to Fablau, My Nitrate is around 10. My Phosphate I just bumped it to around 2ppm. I need to keep my Nitrate low because I am keeping German Blue Rams. I seem to have the problem of either getting GSA and/or BBA.


Its weird cuz my tap water I tested has phosphate of 2.0 ppm but when I test my 45G tank, it tests only 0.5ppm

 

Sorry let me clarify. I tested my tap water and it has 2 ppm Phosphate. However 2 days after my weekly water change, I usually test my water and the tank water tested only 0.5 ppm for Phosphate. My tank isnt CRAZY planted but id say it is quite planted. Is it possible that my plants use THAT much phosphate? Im not running any phosphate remover or anything. Should I still be dosing additional phosphates to up it?


I dont want to get into Co2 right now as I just had another kid and dont think I'll have the time for it. As for flow, Ive got 2 HoB running on my 45G. One is a Fluval C4 rated for a 70G tank and one is a Auqaclear 20. So I dont think flow is really the problem ? Its probably Co2. I didnt know frequent water changes could solve it so im going to stick with my weekly Saturday 30% WC and probably throw in two more 15% ones in the middle of the week. Hopefully that will help the BBA and maybe add more Phosphate from the tap water?