Once you have decided to get a pet that needs to be kept in the aquarium, we always need to consider the water parameters. You need to learn the ideal parameters and this applies to any aquatic creatures including the betta fish. Betta fish are very beautiful creatures and very easy to care for. In this article let us go over the steps and ways to keep your betta fish happy and healthy.
Betta Water Parameters
PH Levels
Betta fish will thrive in water within a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5. Usually, bettas do best in softer water, but they will also tolerate medium to semi-hard water.
Temperature
The best betta water temperature is between 76° and 80° F (24.5° and 26.5° C)
Ammonia: 0 ppm.
Nitrite: <0.25 ppm.
Nitrate: <20 ppm.
GH: 3-4 dGH (50-65 ppm)
KH: 3-5 dKH (52- 90 ppm)
Minimum Tank size: 1 Gallon
How to Keep Betta Fish Water Safe
Research and identify potential chemical impurities that may be of harm to your betta fish.
Filter with activated carbon 24 – 48 hours before adding to the tank.
Add water conditioner specifically made for aquariums.
Filter for another 24 hours.
Test the pH and hardness. Make adjustments as needed.
Float the water in a bag in the tank for 30 minutes. This will equalize the temperature between the new water and existing water in the tank.
Release the water into the tank.
How to Check the Water Parameters Level
In order to perform these water tests you will, of course, need to purchase an aquarium water test kit. You can find these test kits at your local pet store and you can also purchase them online. Aquarium test kits come in several different forms, though most master kits contain all of the items you'll need in order to test for ph levels, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and water hardness.
Aquarium Fish Water Parameters to Consider
The pH level is the measure of how acidic or alkaline a liquid solution is, with lower numbers being more acidic and higher numbers being more alkaline. Different fish have different tolerances for what they can survive in. it’s important to know your specific species’ requirements when setting up an aquarium as there are many factors involved. As a general rule, the more acidic a water solution is, the poorer its buffering capacity and ability to neutralize changes in pH.
The KH (Carbonate hardness) level measures how well CO(II) ions can combine with OH(-Ion’s). The higher this number is, the less likely it becomes that nitrogenous compounds will circulate in the water.
The GH (General hardness) level is one of the most important factors when considering what fish you want to put in your aquarium, as it measures how much calcium carbonate there is dissolved in a solution and affects pH levels. The KH and GH are connected; higher KH levels result from hard or alkaline water, and higher GH levels result from soft or acidic water.
The temperature of the aquarium should be tailored to what kind of fish you are keeping; for instance, tropical species need warmer waters (with temperatures between 23°C – 27° Celsius). Non-tropical freshwater fish can live in cooler temps (between 18°C – 21° Celsius).
The hardness of the water is measured on the German degree (dGH) scale and has a numeric range between 0 – 18. The more dGH, the higher its content of dissolved minerals like calcium carbonate. It’s recommended to keep this number between 12-18 for aquariums containing non-tropical freshwater fish.
Conclusion
All aquatic creatures need extra care and that includes Betta Fish. First thing we need to consider to keep them healthy and happy is the environment they live in and that would be the aquarium and its water parameters. Aside from making sure that they are in a safe place, one should be consistent by constantly checking the parameters such as the PH level or the temperature.
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