pH level in betta tank

[heatherpooreks]

Sorry for all the questions today! I have Maximus in his own 5gal tank. After he was in there a couple days, I added an additional plant because he seemed to dart a lot. He calmed down, but the pH was around 8. I used a chemical balancer to get to 7. However he isn't eating much and the pH is back to an 8. I read somewhere it is harder on the fish to bounce the pH than it is for the fish to adapt. Any ideas?

 

[itiwhetu]

Do you have plants in your tank?. ph buffers are only ever temporary. You need to find away to bring the ph down naturally. Plants are a good way to do this.

 

[heatherpooreks]

What do you recommend for pH ammonia ?

 

[heatherpooreks]

I meant "and" amonia

 

[itiwhetu]

you can use almond leaves, or peat as a natural buffer. If you can get your pH just below 7 the ammonia in your tank will turn to ammonium which is not toxic

 

[hansgruber7]

You need the ammonia to be at zero. If it's consistently above that your tank is either not cycled or there is a water quality problem that needs to be addressed. Ammonia will cause fin rot and kill your betta.

 

[heatherpooreks]

You need the ammonia to be at zero. If it's consistently above that your tank is either not cycled or there is a water quality problem that needs to be addressed. Ammonia will cause fin rot and kill your betta.

Ammonia is 0 in this tank

 

[itiwhetu]

Good job

 

[PheonixKingZ]

It is recommended to keep bettas in tanks with 6.0 - 8.0 pH. Please do not use chemical pH balancers... these can lead to more problems.

 

[heatherpooreks]

Does driftwood hell?

 

[itiwhetu]

Yep sure will

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Does driftwood hell?

I’m sure that’s a typo...?

If you meant “help”, then yes. Driftwood will help to naturally lower your pH level.

 

[heatherpooreks]

I’m sure that’s a typo...?

If you meant “help”, then yes. Driftwood will help to naturally lower your pH level.

Oops!