| Chances are you got your betta fish at a pet | | | | atmosphere that by the time it reaches the |
| store of somekind. If you had the typical | | | | ground it's called "acid rain." |
| experience, you got a person that told you | | | | Lots of mineral in suspension = hard water = high |
| nothing about the water requirements for your | | | | pH. The opposite is also true, less minerals = soft |
| betta or anything else about betta fish care. They | | | | water = low pH. |
| may or may not have told you that you needed | | | | The only way to tell if your water has high or low |
| to change the water, but gave you no guidance. | | | | pH is to measure it with a pH test kit. The test |
| Actually, when you got home and got a good | | | | kits are cheap, but you must have one in order |
| smell of the water your betta was in, you | | | | to test the acidity of the water. Most water in |
| decided to change the water out. | | | | the US will test between 6-8, but hardly any |
| You may be inclined to think that any water will | | | | water will test at the magical 7 without being |
| do. Most clean water looks, smells and tastes the | | | | treated. |
| same, unless it came out of a toilet bowl or | | | | Most tropical fish, such as bettas need water that |
| something like that, right? Seriously though, | | | | has a neutral pH, meaning the water should test |
| different sources of water produce water that | | | | at a 7. To adjust the pH of the water, you need |
| has many different characteristics. There are | | | | to add "pH up" or "pH down" depending on the |
| many invisible, and hard to distinguish factors that | | | | case to the water, until it tests at a 7. |
| can have a bad effect on your betta. These | | | | VERY IMPORTANT |
| invisible things could actually kill your betta. | | | | Any adjustments to the pH must be done |
| Here are a couple of water parameters that you | | | | gradually. Bettas, like most fish, are very sensitive |
| should keep in mind when taking care of your | | | | to sudden fluctuations in their water environment. |
| betta: | | | | Only add a few drops at a time of either solution |
| Water pH. | | | | to keep the change as gradual as possible. |
| Without getting into a chemistry conversation, pH | | | | Water Temperature |
| is a measure of the acidity of the water. If you | | | | Fish are very sensitive to the temperature of |
| think about what acid does, you'll understand the | | | | their water. |
| importance of keeping an eye on this measure. | | | | Tropical fish like water temperatures between |
| The range goes from 0-14 and the lower the | | | | 75F and 82F. You may need to get a heater to |
| number, the higher the acidity. A pH of 7 is a | | | | keep the water within that temperature range, |
| neutral reading, meaning that the water is neither | | | | specially if you have a large tank. When it comes |
| acidic nor basic. | | | | to water heaters for your fish tank, you really do |
| The thing with the pH level of water, is that it's | | | | get what you pay for, so get the best quality |
| tied closely to the source of the water. | | | | heater that you can afford. You do not need a |
| Typically speaking, if your water comes from an | | | | heater if your tank is smaller than 5 gallons since |
| underground source and has been seeped through | | | | you may end up cooking your fish. |
| lots of different rocks, it probably has a lot of | | | | Regardless of the size of your tank water |
| dissolved minerals in it. Water with a lot of | | | | temperature, is something that you can't see, so |
| minerals dissolved in it is called "hard water". | | | | you'll need to have a thermometer for your tank. |
| Water from lakes or ponds, where maybe there | | | | Just use one of those that stick to the side of |
| was a lot of decaying materials etc. usually has | | | | the tank and you should be fine. |
| more acidity to it but is called "soft water." In | | | | If you'd like to learn more about what kind of |
| some places, the rain water collects so many | | | | water to use and learn more tips about betta fish |
| chemicals as it makes its way through the | | | | care, click here to continue. |