Help with 10 Gallon Planted Betta Tank

[BeetleLann]

Can upload images if helpful. LMK if this would be helpful!

My 10 gallon was set up using media and substrate from my older tank. It was cycled before the inhabitants and plants were introduced. Levels were good, everything was stable. It did really well for about 6-8 months, but my mistake was introducing some new cherry shrimp from petsmart to "add genetic diversity". I think they introduced a pathogen that killed off all the shrimp in both tanks. The older tank did poorly for a bit with all the waste, but several month on, it's fine again. However my betta tank isn't doing so well.

 

• First, my male veil tail has always had fin issues. They have been stringy for lack of a better word for a couple years now. He seems to get on just fine, there didn't seem to be decay or anything for the longest time. LFS didn't seem concerned when I asked them for help with this originally. I've tried getting advice off the internet before, overall consensus is that despite his less than attractive fins, he's okay. However, lately I've noticed what's likely to be fin rot. For 3 days, I have been doing daily 20% water changes, adding tap water with conditioner. I have also purchased and boiled mini almond leaves to add to the water. Still possibly noticing some black tissue on the edges. He was also very lethargic the last few weeks. I did a very big water change 3 days ago, and removed his floating log because it has discoloured and might be leaching toxins (??? unconfirmed), and he's sort of perked up. He is active at times, likes to eat whenever I visit him, but he still rests a lot. Maybe he's just old?

 

• My other concern is that the plants are not doing well at all. I think I have an algae that's taking over their leaves and affecting their growth. Moreover, their growth is inconsistent. Some plants have died, others look like they will die soon. I'm sorry, I don't remember the names of the plants, but I can upload pictures.

 

I need to know how to fix this because I don't want to be slowly torturing my betta. I am trying to do everything right but I must be doing something (or multiple things) wrong.

 

Current water parameters:

• pH is stable but high, 8.0-8.2 (my tap water is high, too)
• GH 0-30 (mg/L)
• KH 80-120 (mg/L)
• NO2- 0 ppm
• NO3- 0.5-10 ppm
• Ammonia around 0.25-0.50 ppm (I know this is higher than it should be, this is why I'm trying to be diligent with water changes).
• Temp 78F

 

Any thoughts on what to do next ? Please and thank you!

EDITED TO ADD:

Also, I changed filters a while ago from your standard HOB to Tetra Whisper 10-30 gallon. I do not like it. It's not adjustable, and at first the flow was much too strong. Over only a few months it reduced to hardly any flow at all. Ended up getting a lot of biofilm on the surface of the water due to lack of agitation. I have removed it and put the original HOB back up.

Edited January 24, 2022 by BeetleLann

[BAT]

Did you quarantine the cherry shrimp before introducing them?  Do you have pictures of the fins? My betta is just getting over a bad fin rot.

[BeetleLann]

@BAT Unfortunately, no as I don't have a quarantine tank. Someday I'll have one! Sadly doesn't matter anyway because that was like, back in September and they're all dead now. 😞

I will try to get a picture of Mop's fins! How is your betta doing?

Any thoughts on the plants?

[Jennifer V]

@BeetleLann can you upload photos of the plants? 

[BAT]

@BeetleLann I have had wins and losses with plants.  what kind of plants? what kinds of lighting (type and schedule)? what kind of substrate? what kind of fertilizing?