Problem decreasing pH in new tank...

[MattMattBoBatt]

I just got a small tank with a single betta and an african dwarf frog. I am new to aquariums and noticed that the betta did not look healthy, was not eating. I began trying to figure out what could be wrong. I have been monitoring temperature and water quality, and in doing so I realized the water pH was very very high. (Wouldn't register on my pH kit, >7.6)

So I bought some pH Decrease and have been carefully adding it over the past two days, but it seems to have stopped at just under 7.6. The test continually shows light blue which seems to be about 7.4-7.5.

I have stopped adding the pH because it doesn't seem to be working anymore, and I read that sometimes you can't lower it further due to buffer agents in the water, and if I keep adding it I could eventually cause a pH crash.

But I would really like to get the pH reasonably close to 7.0. Even if the betta and frog can do OK at 7.5, I would still like to understand why the pH is not lowering further and how I can fix that.

Should I be adding some kind of buffer agent of my own to help lower the pH? I heard you can put wood in the water but I read this will discolor the water, and I'm also worried about introducing bacteria and algae that is on the wood which might harm my fish. (where should I get the wood?)

Any advice or suggestions would be *greatly* appreciated. Thank you in advance!

[iZinedane]

You can use driftwood which will be found in lakes..
or you can just buy at your LFS
but if you found it soak it in water and change the water everyday
until it clears it will help buffer out the tannins.
hope this helps.

[thrakuarium]

Just to gauge what is going on, check your tank ready water before you add it and see where the PH is. If it doesn't match what is in the tank, you may want to look at your substrate and decorations and see if something is raising your PH in the tank.

[rangur1]

there is a powder product at your LFS called "ideal 7.0" this is a buffer agent that adjusts your ph to 7.0 and keeps it there. you add it to your replacement water when you do a water change.

also, make sure you do not have clay pots or dolomite sustrate as these will raise your ph way up.

[PostalPenguin]

What you should do is figure out why the betta isn't doing so well. Most fish in the aquarium trade will adjust to any range of pH, the ideal pH ranges of fish are just that ideal but most fish will adjust to outside of that. So I would hesitate to say that the pH is causing your fish to get sick. Have you been checking your ammonia, nitrite and nitrates?

[Wild Turkey]

What you should do is figure out why the betta isn't doing so well. Most fish in the aquarium trade will adjust to any range of pH, the ideal pH ranges of fish are just that ideal but most fish will adjust to outside of that. So I would hesitate to say that the pH is causing your fish to get sick. Have you been checking your ammonia, nitrite and nitrates?

I agree!!! The ph is not whats negatively effecting your betta. Did you choose a cycling method? What are your parameters?

Wood will lower the ph naturally for you if you like, chemicals like ph up/down almost never work and result in a fluctuating ph which is much, much worse than a ph thats even quite a bit out of optimal range but stable imo

[rich311k]

I agree please give us your parameters and stick with adding a chunk of wood as your PH adjustment. Something else is causing the problem.

[Northernguy]

Welcome to the Fabulous AC!:22:
Have you been doing proper water changes?How much how often?
Do you have a liquid test kit?
Are you adding dechlorinator?
Those chemicals you are adding may be why your betta is not feeling good.
As said add some driftwood to the tank,it will help stabalize a lower ph.