I lost a red platy about 10 days ago to fin rot and a few of my other fish were exhibiting signs so I bought some Intrepet Aquarium Treatment No. 8 Anti Fungus & Finrot. I added the correct amount for my tank, raised the temp to 30C and turned my bubble wall on 24/7 (all as directed by the instructions).

However, after 7 days most if not all my plants are suffering. In fact, my grass-like plants are brown all the way down to the base and just fell apart in my hands during this morning's water change. Even my onion plant with it's thick strong leaves is suffering...

I'm attributing this to either of the following:

i. the finrot treatment; or
ii. over aeration.

I don't think the higher temperature played a part as during the summer my tank reaches at least 32C for days on end and my plants don't suffer.

Did the 24/7 aeration drive out all the CO2 from the water? I tested it first thing this morning and 02 levels at the bottom were 8 mg/l - it's usually <2 mg/l down there without aeration.

Can certain treatments have negative effects on plants? I think I'll email Intrepet with this question...

Anyway, 50% water change this morning, temp back down to 26C and aeration only over night. I've added some Seachem Flourish to the water to try and get things kick started...

Obviously I'm the only one then....

Yes there are alot of meds out there that can hurt if not kill your plants. That is why a HT is very important when you have a planted tank. You can stick the sick fish there and treat and not have to worry about the main tank and it's plants.

Rose

But that means you:

a. have to have room for a hospital tank (=HT?)

b. have to run 2 tanks so that you don't kill your fish through stress/ammonia spikes! and

c. have increased expenditure and I already send a fortune in my LFS!!

I couldn't find an email address for Intrepet anywhere so I guess we'll never know - they certainly don't warm you in the instructions...

There's a lot of people out there that don't have live plants (like a majority of those with fish). I don't think they think of things like that when they are labeling fish meds. I'll have to dig around and see if I can find my list of meds that do damage plants.

Rose

That's why I was trying to find an email address for Intrepet...