Vallisneria not doing well

So, I've been slowly stocking my 90l tank.

8 Rasboras
8 Neon
3 Guppies (Male)
3 Upside down cat

All added at a rate of 3 per week.

All good so far. Do a 10l water change each week. Clean filter every 3 weeks in tank water (bucket). Do PH, Amonia, Nitrate and Nitrite testing weekly (6.8PH and 0 ratings for others.

All going great.

However, I added some Vallineria plants last week as well as buying some catfish pellets (previously just used flake, but decided to get pellets when I added the catfish.

Today, the tank looks rather murky, lots of small debris.

The Vallineria seems to be doing rather badly, many strands look dead.

They seem to have clogged the filer.

So I have removed the plants and done a 10l water change. I cleaned out the filter pads. Tested water, no issues.

So, the questions.

1. Could the plants really have done this?
2. If so, will the filter clear things up? If not, what else should I do?
3. The fish liked the plants, but for whatever reason, they did not seem to thrive, what similar alternatives can I get that might be more hardy?
4. Could the catfish pellets have caused the issue?

 

Maybe do more than 10 litres if the tank is 90 litres. Doing 30-50% weekly wouldn’t hurt as long as you dechlorinate new water. This will help remove the murkiness over time and also aid the filter in tackling it.

If these were just small catfish pellets I don’t see the harm in them. It must’ve been the plants; they might not have been healthy.

 

Sounds like your Vals melted a bit, and clogged the filter. Then, any food, waste and general debris in the tank didn't get sucked up... and was travelling around your tank.
If it helps, I tried Vals once, and had zero success. They just melted and made a big mess.
Doing a bit of clean up was the right thing to do. Take care not to overfeed, your tank is pretty well maxed out on bioload, so you need to really stay on top of water changes & filter maintenance.

 

With that I think that’s all that needs to be done. I’m no plant expert but the measures to which have been suggested should help clean up the mess in your tank. Definitely don’t get those plants again as they don’t sound very reliable from what Algonquin stated.

 

There are a few plants that seem to 'melt' when transferred from one tank environment to another, they're just more sensitive to changes than other plants.

 

Ah I see. I’ve always feared live plants because of what they can introduce to the aquarium. I once had moss balls and as a result my tank is still undergoing a snail invasion. I don’t have a quarantine tank but if I were to keep live plants again I would ensure I have one. Thanks!

 

Sounds like your Vals melted a bit, and clogged the filter. Then, any food, waste and general debris in the tank didn't get sucked up... and was travelling around your tank.
If it helps, I tried Vals once, and had zero success. They just melted and made a big mess.
Doing a bit of clean up was the right thing to do. Take care not to overfeed, your tank is pretty well maxed out on bioload, so you need to really stay on top of water changes & filter maintenance.

Thanks. I definitely think it was the plants. They are melted. In the bin now, annoying as the fish liked them.

 

Maybe try something a bit more hardy... like Anubias? They're pretty bullet-proof And no little bits to clog the filter!

 

I’ve heard that anubias and amazon swords are hardy plants that are also beginner friendly.

 

Try Anubias tied to driftwood. It's the only plant I have been able to keep alive, other then moss balls.
I suggest you do 30-50 % water changes each week and use the gravel vacuum heavilly. Your tank is pretty heavily stock.

 

I’ve heard that anubias and amazon swords are hardy plants that are also beginner friendly.

I'll have a look.

I have java ferns (look a little droopy but still alive 2 months on)
Anubius Barteri - This is actually growing and doing well despite the roots attaching themselves to my castle
Dwarf Water lettuce - this has multiplied at a tremendous rate
Elodea Densa - Growing really well, have cut in half so now have double the plants

JUst wanted something thinner for the little guys to swim behind, looks bare now where the missing plants were. I might just plant some of the Densa when it grows and I divide?

 

I have had good luck with dwarf sag. It grows fairly easily, didn't really melt that much and it was has that long thin look you may be looking for.

 

I'll have a look.

I have java ferns (look a little droopy but still alive 2 months on)
Anubius Barteri - This is actually growing and doing well despite the roots attaching themselves to my castle
Dwarf Water lettuce - this has multiplied at a tremendous rate
Elodea Densa - Growing really well, have cut in half so now have double the plants

JUst wanted something thinner for the little guys to swim behind, looks bare now where the missing plants were. I might just plant some of the Densa when it grows and I divide?

You are in good company with not having luck with Vallisneria. I tried Cryptocoryne and it is wonderful. They may melt at the beginning, but recover and incredible well.

 

I removed the plant, but now my water lettuce also appears to be melting. Seems a common issue. Do I need fertilizer or should I remove it?

 

You have a good bioload for the size of tank and with 10% WC per week, are you sure that your Nitrates are 0? If you have a freshwater master kit, you have to shake the second Nitrate bottle vigorously.
Something is off in your tank.

 

Thanks, I'm going to buy a different nitrate test kit to check this. The water lettuce do seem to be dying, should I remove them? Are surface plants essential?

 

Surface are not essential, but fish like them as they diffuse light and provide cover, and they reduce Nitrates as they take nutrients from the water column.
So fertilizer will help in the future, but at this point I would be a bit concerned to throw off the balance for the fish, thus the test kit.
Melting plants/ leaves are just fouling your water and should be removed.

 

So just as an update.

Got a new Nitrate test kit. Reading is 0. As is the ammonia reading.

I removed the meting plants from the bottom and culled some of the water lettuce that looked in a bad way.

Tank now much clearer and on it's way back to health.

I have added some Amazon Sword to replace the Vallineria.

Do you think I need to use a fertilizer with so many plants? Read conflicting advice on this?

Thanks for all the help.

Really happy with my set up now. Other than never seeing the upside down Catfish. They are very good at hiding