The Great pH and fin rot mystery continues

[GradyH]

Hey guys. I've asked a few questions over the past few months. So I came home from college about a month and a half ago. I had my parents set up and start cycling a tank before myself and my betta arrived. Tank transfer was done correctly and everythung seemed good. All ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels have remained perfect except for one small nitrate spike a few weeks ago I think originating from a dead snail. Here's what's going on in the tank.
10 gallon tank
Sand substrate
Large chunk of maori wood
Bag of peat moss
A few plants (although admittedly only one is alive while the others are dying. I plan to put anacharis in soon)
Minimal sunlight
Tank lights always off
No way to combat algea as my snail doed and I havent gotten another.
I do use some Co2 booster, a slight ammount of pH down chemical, and stress coat when I do my once a week 25% water change.

The only issue i can see is that im currently riding at over an 8.0 pH. My fish is getting that fin rot back that he used to have really badly. When i put him in quarantine for 7 days with aq salt he started to heal. However his old injuries are opening up again. I really don't know of anything else that could be stressing him besides the pH. How in thw world can I lower that number. I've tried everything from an RO system to peat and wood. I can't figure it out. Thanks.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Well, there's a lot here and it will take some unpacking.

1 - what is your tap water pH, if left to gas off after 24 hours?
2 - what sand is in the tank? The sand could be spiking the pH.
3 - if there is no lights on with the tank, there's no reason to add CO2 booster... and I'd suggest you not add it at all.
4 - despite your pH struggles, PH adjusting chemicals will cause more trouble than they fix. A stable pH is far more important than a specific value.


As for the fin rot... varying water chemistry could easily lead to fun rot. Clean water and constant water parameters are the best treatment.... and limited extra chemicals.

What's the water temp? Colder water can also lead to fin rot with bettas.

 

[StevenF]

A few plants (although admittedly only one is alive while the others are dying. I plan to put anacharis in soon)

There are two possible reasons for your dying plants. Not enough light or no nutrients int he water. With no growing plants your CO2 level is probably 400ppm. which is more than enough for plats. The CO2 in your tank is primarily coming from CO2 in the air. Most people keep there lights own about 7 hours a day.

In addition to lights and CO2 plants need 15 elements. A combination of gases, metals and non-metals. If thee are not in your water plants will not grow well even if light and CO2 are sufficient. Additionally the fish might experience osmotic stress which could make them more likely to get sick. you might want to test your water to determine the GH and KH. GH is the water harness. if it is less than 50ppm plants and snails may die. If it is too high it can kill and snails and shrimp. Some fish can handle very soft water but will die in hard water. Others prefer hard water and might die in soft water. I don't know the GH preference of betta's but I think it is soft water fish (about 75ppm).

I personally would rate PH as the least likely cause of your fishes problems. Additionally many people add peat to lower PH. Bit it only has a temporary effect on PH and will need periodic replacement. The best way to lower PH is to mix RO water with tap water. RO is more effective than PH down products or peat. Also if your plants are growing well you might find that you will have less algae.

 

[NickAu]

Have you tested the PH of the tap water? Fill a clean glass with tap water and let it sit for 24 hours then test the PH.

I do use some Co2 booster, a slight ammount of pH down chemical, and stress coat when I do my once a week 25% water change.

Heres my opinion.
1 Forget the Co2 booster

2 Throw the PH down product out, its next to useless and in fact could be dangerous to the fish. Lowering PH is much more complex than adding a few drops of product XX to YY gallons of water.

3 Stress coat, These usually contain some sort of Aloe Vera.I do not use or recommend the use of these type of products.

4 25% a week water changes are not enough, I would be aiming for 50% a week.

What's the water temp? Colder water can also lead to fin rot with bettas.

Yes it can. It can suppress the Bettas immune system and cause stress.

Can you please post a photo of the whole tank and close-ups of the damaged fins? Quite often Bettas bite their fins leading to fin rot, One of the causes of fin biting is stress.