Planted Aquarium With Fish Problem

[Bekahsa]

Hi everyone,
 
So I have a small problem or maybe a problem that is causing my fish to get sick.
 
I recently added a few plants to my aquarium, and the water will not stay clear, it's mucky and then it will turn kinda of green.  I have had one Julii Cory die already, and another is sick with pop eye which I'm treating.
 
Why can't I get my tank to stay clear?  Could it be this plant, but I have had this plant before and never saw my aquarium turn the green.  Maybe I need to rethink the filter system, maybe that's not working as good as it could?  I have no clue.
 
Can anyone help

 

[StevenF]

did any of the plant come with soil that is now in the tank?  if so that soil may have excess fertilizer in it causing an algae bloom. Did any significant amount of water come with the plants and did that water end up in the aquarium? Have you seen any sudden increase in nitrogen (Ammonia, nitrate, or nitrite)  If so that could indicate fertilizer is present.  
 
In my experience high phosphates is frequently a cause of an algae bloom.  You might want to consider getting a phosphorous test kit.  Phosphorous is also a plant fertilizer.   Regardless of the cause you probably start doing major (70%) daily water changes to get the nutrient levels back down to normal.  Note some fertilizers may be slow time release versions that could make the problem persistent.  Time release fertilizers sometimes look like round colored beads in potting soil or sticks of what looks like rock.  If you see these remove them.

 

[StevenF]

Another possibility that I didn't consider earlier is that your plant may have been treated with a chemical to kill unwanted snails or insects.  Some chemicals used to do this may contain phosphate.   If any residue was left on the plants when you put them in your aquarium could have affected your fish/.

 

[Bekahsa]

Hi Steven,
 
Thanks so much for your reply.  
 
I actually got these plants about a month ago, and my water remained clear until this past week when it started turning mucky then greenish, out of no where.  Could the fertilizer in the plant just now letting it out into my aquarium water?  
 
I don't believe there was any chemical added to the plants because it came with those pets snails and I have been removing them as I see them appear.  
 
I did an 80% water change last night and it's back even worse today, I'm getting frustrated now.  I even went out to buy a another type filter thinking maybe my filter wasn't doing it's job.  I also bought a UV sterilizer, but don't have all the components that I need to set it up, stupid me didn't look at the package contents.  Returning it to back to the store and will buy a kit online if I need too.
 
I will do what you have recommended a 70% water change daily until this gets better which I hope it does, cause I have a 40 gallon tank that is tidiest to do that much water change every single day, but I don't want anyone else sick.
 
Oh, and by the way, my Julii eyes are no longer swollen, but not taking any chances putting her back in until a week later after some treatment to make sure all bacteria has been killed.  I am now treating her with the Tetra all in one remedy to kill any bacteria from even beginning to grow, than will treat her with a salt bath just to make sure.  
 
I think once she and my tank is clear, I am thinking in treating the whole 40 gallon tank with the Antibacterial medication just in case anyone else is sick or getting sick and treat the aquarium with a salt bath keeping the plants in mind and baby Cory's as well, just a 1 week treatment, than I'll do an 80% water change and hopefully everything will be back to normal like it use.
 
Thanks again Steven

 

[SherLar]

   What kind of plants did you get? Some plants, such as most species of anubias, shouldn't have the roots or rhizomes buried in the substrate, or they'll rot from the roots up, clouding your water badly.

 

[Bekahsa]

I bought, 3 different types of plants, and have bought these before only to have died later.
 
Hornwort, Baby tears and Italian Spirals.  The only one that is a first for me is the last one mentioned instead I had bought Jungle Val.  But all of my plants seam to die.  The only one that have not died and is very hardy is the Amazon Sward and that can grow pretty large, had to trip it a bit.  
 
I have the Hornwort floating on the top and some stays in the middle of the tank which my July cory baby's loves it and the neon tetras as well.  I can't seam to keep them alive when I have it pin down with an object, it has died out whatever was pin down with objects.
 
Can you give me any suggestion as to how do I go about keeping them alive?  Oh, I should mentioned that I was adding Seachem to the aquarium, but I think that also had something to do with my water getting green.  What do you think.  I have had this bottle for over 2 years, maybe it's expired already and causing problems??? Not sure.
 
So, I did the water change yesterday again about 70%, and I also decided to actually remove the Hornwort from the water since that's the plant that is mostly abundance in my aquarium, and guess what!  No green water, yay!  Just a little cloudy from my tap water since I had to add not cold water, but luke warm water for my tropical fish, but that will disappear in time.    I have the Hornwort in a small tank, and going to replace the water every day, but the tank that the Hornnwoth is in, the water is crystal clear.  What's going on??? I have no clue.