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BGA - Nutrient Deficiency?

I have lurked on this list for a number of years and firstly may I thank all the regular contributors to it - I have learn so much from just picking up on your responses and the web references that litter the list.  Despite all this I am now sadly needing  more proactive advice.

I have major infestation of BGA and whatever I do I can't shift it - I have not tried Erythromycin yet but have it on hand I want to get the tank right first.

The tank is 160litres (42gallUS) with 110W of fluorescent lighting (Dennerle) and Dennerle substrate and heating coils.  Pressure Co2 setup

Temp 79, pH 6.6, KH 5, GH6 all measured with good (for the UK) kits

Following the theories of Sears/Conlin and laterly Tom Barr's et al development on their work, I have been attempting to get macros in mild excess first then worry about other stuff.

I change 33% of the water weekly and at the same time add 8g K2SO4.  This gives me a starting point of 30ppm of K which I think is in limits

I dose with 35ml of AP LeafZone weekly spread over the week and I dose 4 g of KN03 over the week to maintain a presence of 5-10 ppm NO3 on average (measured).  Have used TMG but its difficult to get here but no difference to the problems.

And I have Algae!  BGA the worst offender, there is also green powdery stuff on the glass and Green spot on the strictas.  The reason I haven't tipped in the Erythro yet is that I am sure there is some kind of deficiency going on and I can't work it out.  BGA I think would come back becuase the plants have never grown well.

This tank has never been right.  I struggled to grow H. Polysperma, Egeria or Cabomba - they fell apart - I gave up.

Growth of the stuff that does survive is slow and 'not right'. PLants in this category are E.Tenellus (no runners), Eleocharis (slow), H. Difformis (really slow growth, small leaves), Alternatheria (Slow), H. Zosterifolia (Slow, little branching), H. Stricta (New leaves curled, little/no branching).  Bacopa Carolina does OK.  Ludwigia Palustris is OK but alhtough red, the leaves really curl back near the surface.   The stand of E. Parv 'Tropica' throws up distorted leaves - quite twisted (put CaCo3 tabs in substrate - no effect).  Other symptoms the strictas lower leaves get little brown and yellow spots then go clear from the tip before dying back.  

The symptoms the tank is exhibiting are some sort of nutrient deficiency(ies) but the substrate is only a year old - shouldn't be depleted yet.  The Strictas would indicate K or NO3 deficiency but that is in good range.  I can't measure K but I can't believe the amount I am using would be depleted in a week.

Any ideas because I have run out, I'm just glad the tank's not in the living room or I would be in serious danger :>) 

Sorry about the length of the mail and thanks for any help you can give.

Matthew

In the UK 



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