Betta Fish pH - How to Lower the pH of an Aquarium
The correct pH for aquariums varies from fish to fish.
But what is the right pH for bettas?
And how can you change your pH if your level is off?
Betta fish prefer a pH level between 6.5 and 7.5.
Luckily, you can raise or lower your pH if it doesn’t naturally fall within this range.
Water chemistry can be tricky to understand,
but pH is a good and easy place to start.
We will discuss factors that influence pH,
how to change your pH to better suit your betta,
and possible impacts of pH changes.
What should the pH Level Be in a Betta Fish Tank?
The pH level should be between 6.5 and 7.5 if possible.
However, it is possible for bettas to live and thrive between 6.0 and 8.0.
These ranges cover most, but not all, tap water.
If your water is either higher or lower than the maximum ranges,
you will need to either change it or consider keeping a different species of fish.
Keep in mind that water straight from the tap will not show its true pH.
To see what your pH actually is, you will need to test the water after leaving it out for 24 hours.
As the water is pushed through the pipes,
it tends to gain or lose certain gasses that impact the pH.
It takes about 24 hours for the gases to stabilize,
and the pH can change more than a whole degree after the 24-hour period.
Once you can test the true pH, you can make any necessary adjustments.
Buffering Capacity and pH
Betta fish prefer soft water, which often occurs at a lower pH.
It is possible to have harder water at a lower pH,
but this is rather rare.
The reverse is also true; higher pH water is normally harder.
The mineral content itself doesn’t necessarily impact the pH.
However, the buffering capacity of water,
often measured by kH (carbonate hardness) has a significant impact your ability to change the pH.
Hard water has a high buffering capacity while soft water has a low buffering capacity.
Buffering capacity is often seen as a good thing;
unless you are trying to change the pH. .
When you change the pH of soft water,
you should do so very slowly and carefully.
Soft water often changes more quickly and drastically than predicted,
which can harm fish.
On the other hand, hard water needs to be treated more aggressively to successfully change the pH.
How to Naturally Lower the pH of an Aquarium
If you have water with a high pH and high buffering capacity,
it can be difficult to lower, but not impossible.
Natural methods normally take a bit longer than store bought methods,
but they are more stable and have longer lasting effects.
Plant matter, CO2 injections, and vinegar are some of the more popular methods.
As plant matter decays in aquariums, it releases tannins.
Tannins can make the water appear darker,
but it has beneficial antifungal and antibacterial properties,
as well as the ability to lower the pH. Aquarium driftwood,
Indian almond leaves, peat moss, and certain seed pods are commonly used in aquariums.
It is not recommended to gather these yourself,
as you can’t be sure they weren’t treated with pesticides or insecticides.
If either of those get into your aquarium,
your fish will die.
Driftwood, particularly Malaysian and Mopani driftwood, is the most effective method.
These types of driftwood are well known for the massive amounts of tannins they release.
Carbon dioxide injection is used in heavily planted tanks.
It should not be used in tanks without plants,
as you can suffocate your fish.
When done properly, the pH will remain steady, but below the tap water pH.
It also allows you to grow incredibly brilliantly colored plants that can’t
survive on the normal amount of CO2 in aquariums.