All,

I think it is the blue/green slime. Tank doesn't smell as sweet either. I had this issue years ago before EI with my crypt gardens, but went away magically when I went away for a week and hadn't been back since, at least 2 years.

Ted,

The slimy stuff noone seems to like. I have all you mention but the Nerite snails.
Not killing me yet, but is a PITA and is very manual effort to remove. The bosemani won't eat it either and they eat ANYTHING, esp floating plant material in the water column........

Vaughn.

Yes a 180. It is 2.5 wpg @ 450 \ 180. I do have auto c02 and EI to use that light.
Still think it is too much? Tank is 24" deep...........

I don't have 6" to raise but will raise at most 2" as I am almost at the top adjustment as it is.

I can also redo the hardware to give myself more height. I will play with this and see. Should be easy to re-affix to give myself another 6-12" in adjustable height.

All 3 lights are in one fixture with one on/off switch so cannot vary as you suggest....

But will try reducing duration by 1-4 hours over the next couple of weeks and see what happens..........

I will say that the amount of c02 going into the tank is high to keep my DC nice lite green, no yellow at all, no fish distress I can see. No bubbles per second can be counted as it is turbulent in the bubble counter.

Could I be giving too much c02 to cause the algae, but enough for the plants to grow/pearl nicely, and not enough to distress the fish??? That doesn't seem likely from what I have learned.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Will keep you posted of developments.