A few issues with my tank

[Arwai]

Hi everyone. I'm really adamant about having a betta in a community tank. But my tank pH is 6, and I know 7 is optimal. I've been thinking about either using a neutralizer or increasing the pH naturally. I also found this info (How To Increase Aquarium pH - Naturally! | Home Aquaria)

What do you think? Also my tank is still going through the fishless cycle ( so annoying that's its going so slow, or may be stalling ). If I increase the pH should I do it during o after the cycle?


Also I've been doing a fishless cycle since June 22nd. I'm wondering if the cycling has stalled. I thought I had gotten to a point where the cycle was almost complete. Last time I tested the water parameters for cycling this is what I had:
Ammonia 1ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, nitrate 80 ppm.

I dosed it back up to 4ppm and its stayed there ever since. Any suggestions?

Oh FYI my tank is 30 gallon planted (amazon swords, jungle val, a banana plant and some anubias) with black flourite and sand substrate, using aquaclear HOB filter.

Feedback on any of the above is greatly appreciated.

 

[TMaier]

Add 1/2 cup of coral/aragonite to your filter. Works like a charm.

 

[Fishdude3233]

Stable ph is much better then fluctuating. So don't mess with it. when did you redose it your tank?

 

[Arwai]

Add 1/2 cup of coral/aragonite to your filter. Works like a charm.

I was thinking of taking out the biological filter and replacing it with that

 

[Arwai]

Stable ph is much better then fluctuating. So don't mess with it. when did you redose it your tank?

True, I'm just worried about putting a better in a tank with that low of a pH. I last dosed on July 21st, and dosed it back up to 4ppm. Tested today and ammonia is still 4ppm

 

[Funken_A]

True, I'm just worried about putting a better in a tank with that low of a pH. I last dosed on July 21st, and dosed it back up to 4ppm. Tested today and ammonia is still 4ppm

that is very strange.... Until you are sure it is cycled do not.

throw is some fish food and let it rot in the tank for a couple of days and see if that helped. Fish food will decay giving the beneficial bacteria something to chew on


Also a PH of 6 may be a tad low but its not too low for most fish.

 

[Arwai]

that is very strange.... Until you are sure it is cycled do not.

throw is some fish food and let it rot in the tank for a couple of days and see if that helped. Fish food will decay giving the beneficial bacteria something to chew on


Also a PH of 6 may be a tad low but its not too low for most fish.

Who you telling? LOL! I was like this is odd. I will try the food. Someone told me for bettas pH of 7 is optimal. But then the owner at my LFS told me that the fish will adjust. So now I'm confused.

 

[TMaier]

I was thinking of taking out the biological filter and replacing it with that

You need all the biofilter you can get. Shoot you can just add it to the tank and that will help too.

 

[Fishdude3233]

The betta is more then capable of living in water with a ph of 6