This is my second time attempting to make this post, my first one said "failed to post" and I guess was deleted? That really sucked. Anyway, this is my betta fish, his name is Creepy Nut. I am worried because my water parameters fluctuated from how they were before I put him in the tank.
My tap water has naturally high ph and alkalinity, so before he was in the tank, I dosed with ph down daily, and used ph down while doing water changes as well. I didn't realize- 1 that this stuff wears off and 2 that it's not even a good way to deal with ph problems. So the water in the tank was around 7.5 when I got him, it's risen over about 2 weeks back to 8.5, which is where my tap water naturally is. I have Indian almond leaves in there and some more driftwood coming today. I also have some more immersive wallpaper coming today.
I have read that its more harmful for a fish to have his parameters adjusted than to live in water that isn't ideal, so I'm really not sure how I should continue to address this problem. His colors have gotten brighter since coming home from the pet store, and he has been making bubble nests since day 3. He isn't aggressive to any of my snails and he always comes to greet me when I am anxiously watching him trying to figure out if he'll be okay.
I've had this planted tank for around 2 years, it's been empty for about a year(other than 3 snails) because I didn't have the heart to get more fish after my last guppy died, about a year ago. Back then I was having a lot of trouble figuring out exactly what the problem with my water parameters was. I've since figured out that my tap water has high alkalinity and ph, and the interaction these two parameters have with each other has been giving me trouble since day one. I didn't realize back then exactly what alkalinity meant, so I would dose my tank daily with ph down and become incredibly frustrated when it had no effect after weeks and weeks.
A few months before I put Creepy Nut in, I did a water change with store bought aquarium water, trying to lower the PH that way, it worked for a time, and the pH was down to a much more ideal number, 7.5. to make sure I could sustain this (financially) I started dosing my tap water with ph down when doing water changes (probably only once before he moved in, the snails are pretty efficient with taking care of nitrates)
The other day I tested the water after he moved in and to my horror it has risen back up to at least 8.4. I'm not sure how else I should solve this problem. The obvious answer is only using store bought water, my concern is that store bought water usually has an ideal pH, and I worry adding it to my tank could cause him to go into shock. Hoping if I add enough driftwood it will bring the pH down to a level he'd prefer naturally. Will the high ph shorten his life span? Will he be okay? How should I continue to address this?
https://v.redd.it/51eckwhahbzf1
Posted by elififox
1 Comment
I am a bit confused when you say “high ph and alkalinity” as it’s the same thing. A high pH water is alkaline water
Other than that, have you tested the KH of your tap water? I believe this is your issue. KH directly affects pH and it’s how people stabilize pH. If you are able to lower KH (if high KH is your problem) your pH will stabilize to a more neutral plane and lower itself!
I would start with testing both your KH tap water and tank water. If your tap water is high KH, you can use products to lower it. If your tap water is low KH but your tank water is high KH, it’s something you are adding or something in the tank that’s increasing it. If you have low KH in both we will need to revisit what is making pH increase
Good thing is, once we find the underlying issue your buddy will be just fine with the change as long as you slowly lower your pH