Hi Creighton,

Nobody is helping you out here...

I only know EI, so other than dosing KNO3 and KH2PO4 with TMG, I'm clueless about how you are going about getting your ppms mentioned above. For a 30G tank, I would probably start out with 1/4 tsp KNO3 and 1/16 tsp KH2PO4 4 times per week and 15 ml TMG (TPN) on the off days 3 times per week.

Remember that you need to give your changes a few weeks to take effect...

You don't like Otos, or what? A couple of Otos would have that diatom algae long gone ... it is candy for them. I would also get a few SAEs (true ones, if at all possible -- I just took some false SAEs (flying foxes) back to the LFS because they were mean). SAEs will eat a lot of the other algae. I would recommend some cherry or amano shrimp, but they have a problem with Excel, so don't waste your money if you plan on continuing with Excel. And, I personally would get some Nerite snails (at least 12 -- I have 20 in my 50G), they are algae fiends.

I know all of these algae eaters may not be necessary if everything is perfect, but it sure makes life easier.