Subtrate and tank set up questions

My Betta has been sick for a month in a half. His was in a 5 gal tank with a heater and I added an airstone. He came to us from my teen daughters friend. He came with severe fin damage. He became sick in his 5 gal tank after about a month (stopped eating, would not surface and laid on the bottom of tank.. I went out and bought a 10 gal tank set. I also bought a large rounded corners hiding rock. I purchased live plants and bulbs. I bought Fluval Stratum and added some rock gravel. I watched a video on Fluval Stratum and it said not to add gravel rock but I don't know why. I also read to not disturb the Stratum, like deep vacuuming it. During water changes, I surface vacuum. I clean the tank weekly. I need advice on how clean the Stratum.

I just cleaned his tank 3 days ago. I don't have algae issues but when I was doing a water change today. I noticed everything feeling slimy already. In his tank I am running an over the tank filter on one side and a bio sponge filter on the other side. I noticed that he hides on the sponge filter side and wont go to the other side where is OTT filter is. So I made a baffle out of a water bottle for the OTT filter, and added some additional items on that side for him to hide. I use Seachem Prime with my water changes. That's all I use. My water chemistry is good except my water is very, very hard.water. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

My Betta has been sick for a month in a half. His was in a 5 gal tank with a heater and I added an airstone. He came to us from my teen daughters friend. He came with severe fin damage. He became sick in his 5 gal tank after about a month (stopped eating, would not surface and laid on the bottom of tank.. I went out and bought a 10 gal tank set. I also bought a large rounded corners hiding rock. I purchased live plants and bulbs. I bought Fluval Stratum and added some rock gravel. I watched a video on Fluval Stratum and it said not to add gravel rock but I don't know why. I also read to not disturb the Stratum, like deep vacuuming it. During water changes, I surface vacuum. I clean the tank weekly. I need advice on how clean the Stratum.

I just cleaned his tank 3 days ago. I don't have algae issues but when I was doing a water change today. I noticed everything feeling slimy already. In his tank I am running an over the tank filter on one side and a bio sponge filter on the other side. I noticed that he hides on the sponge filter side and wont go to the other side where is OTT filter is. So I made a baffle out of a water bottle for the OTT filter, and added some additional items on that side for him to hide. I use Seachem Prime with my water changes. That's all I use. My water chemistry is good except my water is very, very hard.water. Any advice will be appreciated.

How much do you feed him? Do you take out any uneaten food? What is your water parameters exactly?

 

I hope it’s ok to post YouTube links on this forum, but I found this video to be very informative and I think it will help you...

As for the slime, is it thick and gooey or just slimy to the touch? Slimy to the touch is ok, imo. That’s your beneficial bacteria growing. A sterile tank is a bad tank.

 

Oh dear evonner,
Unfortunately I have bad news for you. I have used Fluval stratum and still do. Like many of the ” dirt pellet “ style of substrate it should come with a warning. These substrates are made for ” dry start “ planted tanks but can also be used to cycle a new tank. The dirt will release ammonia for around 5 weeks. No fish can be / should be in the tank for 5 weeks. After 5 ish weeks the substrate is a reasonable place to grow most plants. It is a bit likely to drift around almost floating with its lack of weight.

It does not need or respond well to vacuuming. Hovering just above it an inch or so from it is all you can do in an effort to try and pick up some solids - ( poop ). While the video BradleyH2O has posted is a good video particularly on how to start a vacuum the deep vacuuming technique is more suited to gravel and sand. Fluval stratum does not need or like being vacuumed.
Indeed many planted tanks are never DEEP vacuumed. An option is to cap over the top of the stratum with an inch or two of gravel or sand as the second best choice.

The immediate concern today is if the stratum is still leaching ammonia your fish are in danger. I know you now have a test kit. It is possible the bacteria have grown in numbers enough to consume the extra ammonia? Only a water test will tell you.
These nutrients ( ammonia) may well be one of the reasons for the algae and the issues the fish has had?

The slime in any tank is most likely what is called bio film and is completely natural and normal. Although we are not expecting it our glass boxes are just like any pond or lake. Putting your fingers on any glass aquarium will always feel slimy . Some fish keepers only clean the front panel of glass. Some clean all the glass every week.

 

Oh dear evonner,
Unfortunately I have bad news for you. I have used Fluval stratum and still do. Like many of the ” dirt pellet “ style of substrate it should come with a warning. These substrates are made for ” dry start “ planted tanks but can also be used to cycle a new tank. The dirt will release ammonia for around 5 weeks. No fish can be / should be in the tank for 5 weeks. After 5 ish weeks the substrate is a reasonable place to grow most plants. It is a bit likely to drift around almost floating with its lack of weight.

It does not need or respond well to vacuuming. Hovering just above it an inch or so from it is all you can do in an effort to try and pick up some solids - ( poop ). While the video BradleyH2O has posted is a good video particularly on how to start a vacuum the deep vacuuming technique is more suited to gravel and sand. Fluval stratum does not need or like being vacuumed.
Indeed many planted tanks are never DEEP vacuumed. An option is to cap over the top of the stratum with an inch or two of gravel or sand as the second best choice.

The immediate concern today is if the stratum is still leaching ammonia your fish are in danger. I know you now have a test kit. It is possible the bacteria have grown in numbers enough to consume the extra ammonia? Only a water test will tell you.
These nutrients ( ammonia) may well be one of the reasons for the algae and the issues the fish has had?

The slime in any tank is most likely what is called bio film and is completely natural and normal. Although we are not expecting it our glass boxes are just like any pond or lake. Putting your fingers on any glass aquarium will always feel slimy . Some fish keepers only clean the front panel of glass. Some clean all the glass every week.

Thanks for the lesson on Stratum. Any day you learn something new is a good day and that happens a lot on this forum

 

How much do you feed him? Do you take out any uneaten food? What is your water parameters exactly?

How much do I feed him: about 1 ml, its mixture of garlic juice, 2 crushed pellets, a sliver of frozen brine and frozen blood worms. I use a medicine dropper. He wont surface, so I put my hand in his tank a slowly drop a little is front of him. If I can remove the uneaten food, I do but most of the time its so small that I cant. If he would and eat like normal then it would be much easier to remove what he does not eat.

Exact water parameters today are (11/15/21):
Ammonia: 0
N02: 0
N03: 10
pH: 7.6
HpH: 8.0
GH: 10 dGH (179 ppm)
KH: 7 dKH (125.3 ppm)
According to my logs my Ammonia is always 0, N02 0, HpH 7.4, GH 8-9 dGH, KH 3-5 dKH. The only thing I did yesterday (11/14/21), I did a water change. I took out 10 qrts and replaced 12 qrts treated with Seachem Prime. I added some clean ornaments and put a home-made baffle on the outflow of his OTT filter. So, now my pH is high
Photos taking today. He is hiding in the corner, next to one of his live plants behind the barrel, which right under his OTT filter that I put a baffle on last night. This is his preferred side of the tank.

Oh dear evonner,
Unfortunately I have bad news for you. I have used Fluval stratum and still do. Like many of the ” dirt pellet “ style of substrate it should come with a warning. These substrates are made for ” dry start “ planted tanks but can also be used to cycle a new tank. The dirt will release ammonia for around 5 weeks. No fish can be / should be in the tank for 5 weeks. After 5 ish weeks the substrate is a reasonable place to grow most plants. It is a bit likely to drift around almost floating with its lack of weight.

It does not need or respond well to vacuuming. Hovering just above it an inch or so from it is all you can do in an effort to try and pick up some solids - ( poop ). While the video BradleyH2O has posted is a good video particularly on how to start a vacuum the deep vacuuming technique is more suited to gravel and sand. Fluval stratum does not need or like being vacuumed.
Indeed many planted tanks are never DEEP vacuumed. An option is to cap over the top of the stratum with an inch or two of gravel or sand as the second best choice.

The immediate concern today is if the stratum is still leaching ammonia your fish are in danger. I know you now have a test kit. It is possible the bacteria have grown in numbers enough to consume the extra ammonia? Only a water test will tell you.
These nutrients ( ammonia) may well be one of the reasons for the algae and the issues the fish has had?

The slime in any tank is most likely what is called bio film and is completely natural and normal. Although we are not expecting it our glass boxes are just like any pond or lake. Putting your fingers on any glass aquarium will always feel slimy . Some fish keepers only clean the front panel of glass. Some clean all the glass every week.

I started cycling this 10 gallon tank 10/10/21. All of my Ammonia reading are 0. At the beginning of the cycling I had nitrite reading of 10/14: .5, 10/15 1.0, 10/16 .5, I did water changes. Ammonia has always been 0 except on 10/29 0.25, I did a 30% water change. These are the only times. From there to today, they are zero's.

I did add some gravel over the Stratum and planned on adding more to cap over, as you mentioned. I watched a video on the product and they said not to add gravel but they didn't say why. But I agree that is what I need to do and I have plenty of already rinsed gravel and larger rock gravel. Slime is good and that is good to know that it is a beneficial bacteria. Please see my replies to others too.

 

How much do I feed him: about 1 ml, its mixture of garlic juice, 2 crushed pellets, a sliver of frozen brine and frozen blood worms. I use a medicine dropper. He wont surface, so I put my hand in his tank a slowly drop a little is front of him. If I can remove the uneaten food, I do but most of the time its so small that I cant. If he would and eat like normal then it would be much easier to remove what he does not eat.

Exact water parameters today are (11/15/21):
Ammonia: 0
N02: 0
N03: 10
pH: 7.6
HpH: 8.0
GH: 10 dGH (179 ppm)
KH: 7 dKH (125.3 ppm)
According to my logs my Ammonia is always 0, N02 0, HpH 7.4, GH 8-9 dGH, KH 3-5 dKH. The only thing I did yesterday (11/14/21), I did a water change. I took out 10 qrts and replaced 12 qrts treated with Seachem Prime. I added some clean ornaments and put a home-made baffle on the outflow of his OTT filter. So, now my pH is high
Photos taking today. He is hiding in the corner, next to one of his live plants behind the barrel, which right under his OTT filter that I put a baffle on last night. This is his preferred side of the tank.

I started cycling this 10 gallon tank 10/10/21. All of my Ammonia reading are 0. At the beginning of the cycling I had nitrite reading of 10/14: .5, 10/15 1.0, 10/16 .5, I did water changes. Ammonia has always been 0 except on 10/29 0.25, I did a 30% water change. These are the only times. From there to today, they are zero's.

I did add some gravel over the Stratum and planned on adding more to cap over, as you mentioned. I watched a video on the product and they said not to add gravel but they didn't say why. But I agree that is what I need to do and I have plenty of already rinsed gravel and larger rock gravel. Slime is good and that is good to know that it is a beneficial bacteria. Please see my replies to others too.

Question, if I add more gravel as you have said and what I thought. Will that have an effect on my pH? This little dude is not used to 8.0. I did a water change last night so I am not convinced that another will help will help whatever spiked my pH. Maybe the baffled. Because I did the baffle maybe I should turn up the flow??? My tap water tests at a 7.4 with the HpH test. I have Indian Almond leaves being delivered tomorrow.
I am in tears. I just tried to feed him. He doesn't even try. I added gravel and small rocks. I would scouth him from one corner to the other so I could move the gravel. His OTT filter is adjustable but even on low I realize the current was too strong. So I turned up the flow now that I have it baffled. I fear he will die tonight. I am trying breathe. I am attaching a photo I just took. I don't know what a fish looks like on its last breath but I think picture shows what that looks like. I had a talk with him, begging him not to stop fighting. I am just a bowl of tears right now.

 

So sorry for your pain and fishy's. It seems that you are doing everything that you can. Try not to beat yourself up over it or stress too much.

 

So sorry for your pain and fishy's. It seems that you are doing everything that you can. Try not to beat yourself up over it or stress too much.

Thank you. Where in Idaho are you?

 

Question, if I add more gravel as you have said and what I thought. Will that have an effect on my pH? This little dude is not used to 8.0. I did a water change last night so I am not convinced that another will help will help whatever spiked my pH. Maybe the baffled. Because I did the baffle maybe I should turn up the flow??? My tap water tests at a 7.4 with the HpH test. I have Indian Almond leaves being delivered tomorrow.
I am in tears. I just tried to feed him. He doesn't even try. I added gravel and small rocks. I would scouth him from one corner to the other so I could move the gravel. His OTT filter is adjustable but even on low I realize the current was too strong. So I turned up the flow now that I have it baffled. I fear he will die tonight. I am trying breathe. I am attaching a photo I just took. I don't know what a fish looks like on its last breath but I think picture shows what that looks like. I had a talk with him, begging him not to stop fighting. I am just a bowl of tears right now.

It looks like your doing everything you can. This happened to my betta and I have no idea why this happened. Is he gasping? Don’t beat yourself up about it because you obviously are doing a good job and trying your best.

 

Oh dear evonner,
Unfortunately I have bad news for you. I have used Fluval stratum and still do. Like many of the ” dirt pellet “ style of substrate it should come with a warning. These substrates are made for ” dry start “ planted tanks but can also be used to cycle a new tank. The dirt will release ammonia for around 5 weeks. No fish can be / should be in the tank for 5 weeks. After 5 ish weeks the substrate is a reasonable place to grow most plants. It is a bit likely to drift around almost floating with its lack of weight.

Just one extra info: The stuff also lowers pH and KH for that time and thus detoxyfies ammonia to ammonium. But that doesn't really matter, as the pH-altering property is depleted faster than the ammonia buildup.

 

Thank you. Where in Idaho are you?

CDA area

 

It looks like your doing everything you can. This happened to my betta and I have no idea why this happened. Is he gasping? Don’t beat yourself up about it because you obviously are doing a good job and trying your best.

No he is not gasping. And he is still alive as of this morning. I thought he was dead. So I gently touched him with his net (cuz my hands were not washed) he darted off at 100 MPH into his big hiding rock. Geez.

So, he is not eating, swimming and sickly for over a month maybe a month and a half. I did some fin rot treatments on him a few weeks or so ago. He is no better and no worse. His fins look like that are getting better. He sits at the bottom and sleeps. I know that he swims from on side to the other because when I check on him, he is in different places.

When humans are sick and weak. We sleep a lot to regain our strength and to recover. He sleeps a lot and maybe that's what he needs to heal. If he is on his last breath, would he have dart 100 MPH to his hiding rock???

CDA area

I dont know where that is. Did ADA county area? Like somewhere around Boise?

 

No he is not gasping. And he is still alive as of this morning. I thought he was dead. So I gently touched him with his net (cuz my hands were not washed) he darted off at 100 MPH into his big hiding rock. Geez.

So, he is not eating, swimming and sickly for over a month maybe a month and a half. I did some fin rot treatments on him a few weeks or so ago. He is no better and no worse. His fins look like that are getting better. He sits at the bottom and sleeps. I know that he swims from on side to the other because when I check on him, he is in different places.

When humans are sick and weak. We sleep a lot to regain our strength and to recover. He sleeps a lot and maybe that's what he needs to heal. If he is on his last breath, would he have dart 100 MPH to his hiding rock???

I dont know where that is. Did ADA county area? Like somewhere around Boise?

I would call up a fish vet near you to consult. It doesn’t seem like he’s dying to me so I would just ask a vet because I have no idea what it is.

 

I would call up a fish vet near you to consult. It doesn’t seem like he’s dying to me so I would just ask a vet because I have no idea what it is.

I can try to find a vet that does fish but I am in a somewhat rural area. A lot of my fish supplies have to be shipped in. I tested his water after my last post. My pH is still 8.0, Ammonia 0.25 (I never have ammonia) Nitrites 0, and my Nitrates are 5.0 (yesterday were 10) I just did a 30% water change. My brain cannot remember but I think ammonia comes from waste (poop, pee and uneaten food). Is that correct?

I would call up a fish vet near you to consult. It doesn’t seem like he’s dying to me so I would just ask a vet because I have no idea what it is.

I can try to find a vet that does fish but I am in a somewhat rural area. A lot of my fish supplies have to be shipped in. I tested his water after my last post. My pH is still 8.0, Ammonia 0.25 (I never have ammonia) Nitrites 0, and my Nitrates are 5.0 (yesterday were 10) I just did a 30% water change. My brain cannot remember but I think ammonia comes from waste (poop, pee and uneaten food). Is that correct?

 

I can try to find a vet that does fish but I am in a somewhat rural area. A lot of my fish supplies have to be shipped in. I tested his water after my last post. My pH is still 8.0, Ammonia 0.25 (I never have ammonia) Nitrites 0, and my Nitrates are 5.0 (yesterday were 10) I just did a 30% water change. My brain cannot remember but I think ammonia comes from waste (poop, pee and uneaten food). Is that correct?

I can try to find a vet that does fish but I am in a somewhat rural area. A lot of my fish supplies have to be shipped in. I tested his water after my last post. My pH is still 8.0, Ammonia 0.25 (I never have ammonia) Nitrites 0, and my Nitrates are 5.0 (yesterday were 10) I just did a 30% water change. My brain cannot remember but I think ammonia comes from waste (poop, pee and uneaten food). Is that correct?

Yes that is where ammonia comes from. .25 isn’t bad. I understand I’m in a somewhat rural area too, hope you figure something out but I honestly don’t know what’s wrong.

 

Yes that is where ammonia comes from. .25 isn’t bad. I understand I’m in a somewhat rural area too, hope you figure something out but I honestly don’t know what’s wrong.

Yeah, I know .25 is not bad but with the raise in pH and the drop in Nitrates = emergency water change. If I would not have done the water change then my situation would be crisis tomorrow.

 

Oh dear evonner,
Unfortunately I have bad news for you. I have used Fluval stratum and still do. Like many of the ” dirt pellet “ style of substrate it should come with a warning. These substrates are made for ” dry start “ planted tanks but can also be used to cycle a new tank. The dirt will release ammonia for around 5 weeks. No fish can be / should be in the tank for 5 weeks. After 5 ish weeks the substrate is a reasonable place to grow most plants. It is a bit likely to drift around almost floating with its lack of weight.

It does not need or respond well to vacuuming. Hovering just above it an inch or so from it is all you can do in an effort to try and pick up some solids - ( poop ). While the video BradleyH2O has posted is a good video particularly on how to start a vacuum the deep vacuuming technique is more suited to gravel and sand. Fluval stratum does not need or like being vacuumed.
Indeed many planted tanks are never DEEP vacuumed. An option is to cap over the top of the stratum with an inch or two of gravel or sand as the second best choice.

The immediate concern today is if the stratum is still leaching ammonia your fish are in danger. I know you now have a test kit. It is possible the bacteria have grown in numbers enough to consume the extra ammonia? Only a water test will tell you.
These nutrients ( ammonia) may well be one of the reasons for the algae and the issues the fish has had?

The slime in any tank is most likely what is called bio film and is completely natural and normal. Although we are not expecting it our glass boxes are just like any pond or lake. Putting your fingers on any glass aquarium will always feel slimy . Some fish keepers only clean the front panel of glass. Some clean all the glass every week.

I came back to this thread as I am trying to pin point anything that would justify my spike in pH that I am still fighting. Prior to 11/15/21 my pH was 7.4 then on 11/15/21 it spiked to 8.0 and it still going on between 8.0 and 8.2. I dont know what else to rule out. My plants are dying. I have threads everywhere. The high pH is causing a Co2 problem.

 

I don’t claim to have all the answers but I have some thoughts on things.

Please bare with me as I wrote another long post. I am trying to help you find your own answers without just telling you “ an answer “.

Let me write of outdoor containers I have been learning from myself this last few months.

4 containers are sitting under and partly under trees that have been in spring blossom. With the wind untold amounts of blossom and green leaves have landed more in one tank than some others. Enough fresh plant material has fallen in to turn the water black in one tank yellow in another and tea coloured in another. I have not tested the PH or any parameters EVER in these outdoor tanks. I would assume they are not all the same?

Having moved multiple spawning mops in 20 litre buckets I have a few dozen rice fish fry indoors.

One outdoor container has no adult fish but just moving a few pot plants around was enough to accidentally move eggs into a newly set up basically sterile container of old recycled fish water. I now have more fry in a uncycled container that has never had a water change, never been feed and never been tested.

My question is .
Why am I changing water in a bucket and feeding 4 times a day on the indoor buckets when the eggs and fry are doing just fine without my knowledge in another outdoor container?
To answer my own question.
Nature is better at this than we are.

Now if you read this far evonnor a word on your situation. Plants continuously drop leave as they adjust to new water. Indeed I am not sure if your plants were even growing IN water fully submerged a few months ago? It’s possible they are still adjusting to life under water having been grown in a nursery above water.
Even if every leaf is gone do not give up on a plant . It is common for them to look terrible for months before coming back supposedly from the dead.

You may have an issue with the PH or it may be that you are now aware of something you would not be aware of if you did not test ?

Only a full point swing of the magnitude you write of within 24 hours is dangerous for fish. Over more time than 24 hours it is not so important perhaps?

I hope your plants are not dying I suspect they are just in shock and adjusting?



A quick and dirty snapshot of a plant pot that at this very moment is in total shock from an adjustment to life under water. The single green stem at 10 o’clock looks nothing like the 8 inches of green plant I brought months ago and have since cut off because it “ was dead” . In my case I expect this pot plant to make a full recovery in time.?


I did write in post #4 that I believed you would have to have / need to have an adjustment time with the Fluval stratum.

Sorry I did not just write “ the answer “ .
Perhaps it’s time to test your water less often?

 

I don’t claim to have all the answers but I have some thoughts on things.

Please bare with me as I wrote another long post. I am trying to help you find your own answers without just telling you “ an answer “.

Let me write of outdoor containers I have been learning from myself this last few months.

4 containers are sitting under and partly under trees that have been in spring blossom. With the wind untold amounts of blossom and green leaves have landed more in one tank than some others. Enough fresh plant material has fallen in to turn the water black in one tank yellow in another and tea coloured in another. I have not tested the PH or any parameters EVER in these outdoor tanks. I would assume they are not all the same?

Having moved multiple spawning mops in 20 litre buckets I have a few dozen rice fish fry indoors.

One outdoor container has no adult fish but just moving a few pot plants around was enough to accidentally move eggs into a newly set up basically sterile container of old recycled fish water. I now have more fry in a uncycled container that has never had a water change, never been feed and never been tested.

My question is .
Why am I changing water in a bucket and feeding 4 times a day on the indoor buckets when the eggs and fry are doing just fine without my knowledge in another outdoor container?
To answer my own question.
Nature is better at this than we are.

Now if you read this far evonnor a word on your situation. Plants continuously drop leave as they adjust to new water. Indeed I am not sure if your plants were even growing IN water fully submerged a few months ago? It’s possible they are still adjusting to life under water having been grown in a nursery above water.
Even if every leaf is gone do not give up on a plant . It is common for them to look terrible for months before coming back supposedly from the dead.

You may have an issue with the PH or it may be that you are now aware of something you would not be aware of if you did not test ?

Only a full point swing of the magnitude you write of within 24 hours is dangerous for fish. Over more time than 24 hours it is not so important perhaps?

I hope your plants are not dying I suspect they are just in shock and adjusting?

View attachment 825590
A quick and dirty snapshot of a plant pot that at this very moment is in total shock from an adjustment to life under water. The single green stem at 10 o’clock looks nothing like the 8 inches of green plant I brought months ago and have since cut off because it “ was dead” . In my case I expect this pot plant to make a fulles recovery in time.?


I did write in post #4 that I believed you would have to have / need to have an adjustment time with the Fluval stratum.

Sorry I did not just write “ the answer “ .
Perhaps it’s time to test your water less often?

I have threads in like 4 different places, One, I was told that my 2 plants that are suffering are seasonal and I need to cut all surface leaves to save the root of the plant. I would like to stop thinking and analyzing. You live in Australia. I am in Idaho USA. Our weather is below freezing, so I have to do everything inside where I control the atmosphere. I am just so exhuasted.

 

Immersed growth.
Wet season. The forest is flooded and plants grow new leaves as they UNDER water.
emersed.

Emersed growth.
Dry season. The forest is almost dry the plants may only have a little water on the roots. The plants grow all new leaves again.

This is what some of us are referring to when writing of seasonal changes. Our plants can be grown in a nursery without water all leaves will fall off before regrowing when added to an aquarium.

Some species of plants can live 365 days a year under water no problem. Other species will at times drop all there leaves for no apparent reason.

 

Oh dear evonner,
Unfortunately I have bad news for you. I have used Fluval stratum and still do. Like many of the ” dirt pellet “ style of substrate it should come with a warning. These substrates are made for ” dry start “ planted tanks but can also be used to cycle a new tank. The dirt will release ammonia for around 5 weeks. No fish can be / should be in the tank for 5 weeks. After 5 ish weeks the substrate is a reasonable place to grow most plants. It is a bit likely to drift around almost floating with its lack of weight.

It does not need or respond well to vacuuming. Hovering just above it an inch or so from it is all you can do in an effort to try and pick up some solids - ( poop ). While the video BradleyH2O has posted is a good video particularly on how to start a vacuum the deep vacuuming technique is more suited to gravel and sand. Fluval stratum does not need or like being vacuumed.
Indeed many planted tanks are never DEEP vacuumed. An option is to cap over the top of the stratum with an inch or two of gravel or sand as the second best choice.

The immediate concern today is if the stratum is still leaching ammonia your fish are in danger. I know you now have a test kit. It is possible the bacteria have grown in numbers enough to consume the extra ammonia? Only a water test will tell you.
These nutrients ( ammonia) may well be one of the reasons for the algae and the issues the fish has had?

The slime in any tank is most likely what is called bio film and is completely natural and normal. Although we are not expecting it our glass boxes are just like any pond or lake. Putting your fingers on any glass aquarium will always feel slimy . Some fish keepers only clean the front panel of glass. Some clean all the glass every week.

Meohmy, I have a thread out talking to the plant gurus. I added gravel and they say I shouldn't have because now vacuuming is difficult. One told me to zip tie a turkey baster to my vacuum. But that did work so well. IDK what to do to vacuum correctly.

 

My Betta passed away sometime last night.

Fin Rot was the most obvious diagnosis. I treated him with API salt in a QT, I did Meth Blue dips and my final ditch was I hit the entire tank with antibiotics. He got better, started eating, playing and then he stared to go downhill a few days ago. I knew his was going to die last night.

So, I want to get another fish and some more plants. Should I do anything with my tank before getting another fish?

So, we knew fin rot for sure the tank should have gotten rid of the bacteria from the antibiotics. But I'm not sure because I don't know why he got better and got worse.

Any advice would be helpful.