Black Beard Algae?

[gatorsean]

Im pretty sure my tank is over run with bba at the moment. It has come and gone since Ive had the tank. Ive gotten rid of it in the past by using large doses of excel and cutting the photoperiod down to 6 hours per day.
Parameters:
pH: 7.2 temp: 78 NO3: <10 ppm

The tank is 55 gallons and has a dual 2X65W T5 fixture. I dose flourish comprehensive every 5 days and do a 25% water change every week. I also have been running a DIY CO2 system and Im still tinkering with it to get a consistent 1 bubble per second. Im pretty sure this is the root of the problem but I would like to hear some other people's thoughts first. Also what would be some solutions to getting rid of the algae because keeping the lights on for 6 hours and 2X the recomended dose of excel isnt doing it anymore . Just keep in mind that Im a college student so Im on a pretty low budget.

Here are some pics too
http/i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/g8torsean/IMAG0416.jpg
http/i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/g8torsean/IMAG0415.jpg
http/i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/g8torsean/IMAG0414.jpg
http/i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z475/g8torsean/IMAG0412.jpg

 

[tanksalot]

In my own experience - been running DIY CO2 on 29 gallon tank since last August - it's tough to maintain the level of CO2 consistently enough to keep BBA away. On a tank twice the size with the amount of light you have, I wouldn't even consider it (that doesn't mean it can't be done, just that I wouldn't).

If you're on a budget and can't go pressurised I'd be looking at reducing the light.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

How many bottles are you using in your CO2 set up?

 

[gatorsean]

two bottles and one gets changed each week. i was looking into decreasing the light, the only reason it is so high is because that light was given to me by friend for free. Do you think adding floating plants would do the trick or should just lower the wattage to say 100? Or recommend the lowest wattage that wisteria and star grass will do well in (they are the only non-low light plants that I have in there).

 

[tribalbrit]

Its more the fluctuation in co2 levels than the lighting issue. With diy co2 you get what you get, you have very little if any control. When the system starts up you may get 4-6 bubbles per second, towards the end of its cycle you will be lucky to get 1 bps.
Hence fluctuation in co2 and therefore bba.

This is not a lecture I have been battling bba for months and I have an pressurised system. My problem is circulation.