pH stability in Betta aquariums

[briard]

Been struggling to keep my pH stable in my 5 gallon tank. It swings from 6.5 to 7.2 every few days. Using tap water with Seachem Prime, sponge filter, and a heater set to 78F. Any tips to lock it in?

[lyrista]

pH swings can stress them out big time. What's your water change routine? If you're doing large changes, try smaller, more frequent ones. Also, check if your tap pH varies. Mine's all over the place, so I buffer with crushed coral in the filter.

[florent]

pH swings can stress them out big time. What's your water change routine? If you're doing large changes, try smaller, more frequent ones. Also, check if your tap pH varies. Mine's all over the place, so I buffer with crushed coral in the filter.

Yep, crushed coral works wonders. I toss a handful in a media bag and let it sit in the filter. Keeps my tank at a steady 7.0. How often are you testing the water?

[Sakurao]

I have a similar issue. My tap water is soft and acidic, so I add a bit of baking soda during water changes. It's not perfect, but it helps. Do you think adding driftwood could be messing with your pH?

[rayon]

Driftwood's gonna drop your pH, no doubt. If you're using it, maybe cut it out for a bit and see. Also, what's your substrate? Some of that fancy aqua soil can mess with params too.

[Dmarie19]

My tank's been chill since I switched to RO water and remineralized it. It's a bit extra work, but no more pH drama. You tried that?

[Razonix]

Nah, RO's too much hassle for me. I just let my tank do its thing. Fish seem fine, even with the swings. Maybe they're just built different.

[briard]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Gonna try the crushed coral and smaller water changes first. Appreciate the help!

[lyrista]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Gonna try the crushed coral and smaller water changes first. Appreciate the help!

Let us know how it goes. Stability's key, so give it a few weeks to settle. And test often!

[florent]

Yeah, patience is huge. Took my tank a month to stabilize after I added the coral. Now it's rock solid. Good luck!