Diatoms just wont go away!!!

[DetroitRockCity]

I have a 55gal FW tank that has been set up and stocked now for almost a year a half and I am still getting what seem to be diatoms that make the tank look filthy every 2 wks. I have 3 silver dollars, 7 flame tetras, 4 corys, GBR, bolivian ram, 2 honey sunset guarmies. I have lost a few fish over the last 1-1/2 yrs but most of them were after my bout with ick. Here a few wks ago I lost a few tetras with bulging bellies. Anyone have any thoughts on what I can do to stop the diatoms. Its like never ending new tank syndrome.

 

[Zagz]

Can you provide a picture? How often are you doing water changes and how much? Also do you clean your filters every time? What are your parameters?

 

[DetroitRockCity]

I do water changes every 2 weeks, usually about 40% and I've been cleaning my fluval filter every 2 weeks as well. My water parameters are good, but I do have High PH due to our tap water. I dont have a pic of it because I'm having trouble getting the resolution small enough to upload, but I'm trying.

 

[An t-iasg]

I would do water changes every week. Most people do water changes once a week. I recently set up a new tank and I did water changes twice a week to get the diatoms out. Since your tank isn't a new setup, I would do water changes more frequently and I bet that helps. Is your Fluval a canister filter? I only cleaned my canister every 4-6 weeks. Rinse the media in removed tank water, not tap water.

 

[Zagz]

Yes weekly water changes are best. Also cleaning the filter every time can cause a mini cycle which could be keeping your tank in a sort of new tank syndrome sort of way. The bacteria doesn't have enough time to build up.

 

[Alshain]

Yeah, assuming your using a good canister filter. Water change once a week, filter cleaning once a month and as a last resort, Otos are fun to keep and will gorge themselves on diatoms.