You've done all the right things, except maybe to add a few snails and/or
ottos.

More important than a variety of higher order plants at this point is
*quantity* - add lots of cheap, fast growing stem plants and gradually
replace them with nicer specimens later. Goldfish don't need the heat, so
keep the temperature down around 70º to inhibit algae.

These things take time. Achieving and maintaining a desirable, stable
aquarium environment is a process, not a goal.

kush

chet chet-at-surewestDOTnet wrote in message
...
This is my first aquarium in 30 years. I am learning a lot, but I'm
getting
frustrated and need some advice.

I have a standard 29G aquarium with five ~2" juvenile goldfish. The tank
completed the nitrogen-nitrate cycle almost one month ago. I am very
careful about feeding and water quality (water changes, frequent water
testing, etc).

The diatoms coat everything in the tank. Threads in this list, and several
web sites suggest that it will go away, my question is, "when"?

I have tried to introduce a variety of higher order plants to help but the
brown gunk just uses the leaves as another surface for growth. I even have
pothos with the roots in the aquarium to try and help. I introduced a 55w
CF
lamp two weeks ago and a Nutrafin CO2 injector (yeast type) a few days
ago,
and started adding "flourish" three times over the last week. I have done
everything I am willing to do to minimize surface agitation. I am noticing
some new growth on a couple of plants, but they still look pretty nasty.

I have fluorite substrate on it's way, but before introducing it and
investing in more plants, I want to get rid of this brown creeping crud.
Any
advice? Am I on the right track, or am I missing something?

chet