PH of 8 Too High For Betta?

[maryalice81403]

Hi,

If all my other numbers are good (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) will a PH of 8 hurt a betta? I have read that it is better to let them adjust rather than to mess with the PH but I just want to make sure this isn't too high. He seems to be feeling fine but does have some fin damage and I was wondering if that could be caused by high PH. I have treated for fin rot and there is some nice new growth (bright colored but curvy) but the old part of the fin still looks faded and ugly.

He is in a 3 gal cycled tank and I do partial water changes weekly with 3/4 treated tap water and 1/4 spring water (I am in the process of changing him to completely tap water).

MaryAlice

 

[dorkfish]

The betta should have no problem adapting to and living in that water. Also, did you buy the betta locally? If so, he's probably already adapted to your tap water.

 

[echoofformless]

Fin rot, so long as it heals fully, will take a while to go away so much that the fins are beautiful and lustrous. Just be patient with that and keep him clean.

Now as far as pH goes, he will do fine in 8; though bettas on the whole do prefer a slightly acidic pH. The only sure fire and safe way to lower pH is with the use of peat filtration - which will lead to the tank having a blackwater effect. People seem sharply divided on the whether they find the amber colored water aesthetically pleasing. Personally I feel that the closer we replicate nature, the more beautiful. So I keep all of my acid loving fish in blackwater conditions. (My betta tanks are all peat filtered.)

But if you prefer to keep the clearwater effect then there really isn't much you can do with the pH aside from chemical buffers and additives, which will essentially do more harm than good.

 

[maryalice81403]

Thank You!

I feel much better knowing that the PH of 8 will not harm him. I will have to investigate more into the blackwater thing....this is the first I have heard about that. I am definitely a "newbie"!

Thanks Again,
MaryAlice

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

I don't advise messing with water chemistry. My betta is doing well in high PH water (8.2). No finrot.

Your betta's 3 gallon tank is heated, filtered and completely cycled, right? If not, these factors could harm your betta's health far more than a high PH level. An unfiltered 3 gallon tank would require at least 100% water changes weekly--partial water changes will not be enough.

I ask this because finrot is usually the result of poor water quality (ie. dirty water). My second guess would be excessive temperature fluctuation and/or low-temp water. Betta's do best in stable temp water at 75-80 degrees.

 

[maryalice81403]

Thanks for the advice!

My tank is heated and cycled and I keep the water immaculate that's why I was curious as to whether the PH could be the problem. I think you may be right - it could have been the temperature fluctuations. I just recently got a Stealth heater which seems to be holding the temperature stable. Before that I had one of those mini heaters which, while it did help keep water from getting below 79 degrees, it also heated too high on warm days so I had to watch it and unplug it a lot. The temp was varying as much as 5-6 degrees in a day. Hopefully the fins will recoup now that the temp is stable.

Thanks everyone for your help!

MaryAlice