Well Established Tank Behaving Like It’s New

Hey guys! I need some help. My well-established tank of almost 3 years is having some issues. No ammonia or nitrite and the nitrate is 5. I do have an issue with very hard water and my pH is quite high. 8.5, which always worries me especially with my bumblebee catfish. But it’s always been this way. These problems are certainly not new. And my fish all seem fine. I just thought I would mention it in case it’s part of what’s causing my problem.

Anyway, I have this clear/white rough to the touch stuff on the inside of my glass. I don’t know if it’s algae or what but I just can’t seem to scrub it off. It’s getting worse and I don’t know what to do about it. I don’t know how to get it off and I don’t know how to stop it from coming back. Ideas?

Also, an issue you would expect in a relatively new tank is I’ve been having a big problem with brown diatoms everywhere. That stuff wipes off everything with almost no effort for the most part. But I’ve been cleaning it for months and it just keeps coming back quickly and more than before each time. I need help!

How do I fix this? And how do I remove whatever is on my glass in a tank with fish that I’m not going to take out to clean?

 

My guess is that the white stuff on the glass are mineral deposits. Its going to take a razor blade scraper to get it off. I'm surprised its not flaking off your heater.
A 50% WC once a week and careful feeding will likely speed up the elimination of the diatom.

 

Yes because of the hard water your getting mineral (calcium) deposits. A razor blade may remove them. Water changes will help as would some live plants and maybe a nerite snail. If nothing in the tank will eat it.

 

My guess is that the white stuff on the glass are mineral deposits. Its going to take a razor blade scraper to get it off. I'm surprised its not flaking off your heater.
A 50% WC once a week and careful feeding will likely speed up the elimination of the diatom.

I do a 50% change weekly. And it’s actually not on my heater. I think it just looks like that in the picture. So there’s nothing else I can do? Using a razor blade seems risky in a tank with fish.

Yes because of the hard water your getting mineral (calcium) deposits. A razor blade may remove them. Water changes will help as would some live plants and maybe a nerite snail. If nothing in the tank will eat it.

Are the mineral (calcium) deposits harmful to my fish? I hope my fish aren’t being harmed and have been for all this time without me even knowing it. It’s almost like water changes are making things worse but I can’t stop doing them.... any suggestions or is it not anything to worry about too much?

 

I don’t think it’s harmful I think the fish have adapted. I wouldn’t stop or lessen your water changes. What about snails. Trumpet snails(mts) would do a great job on the diatoms and airate your gravel or sand.