Can these be safely used together?

Ah ok, I only waited a minute when testing the source water pH, I'll try again.
I don't have my notes with me, but I think it tested 7.6 and the ammonia was 0.
The other tanks have slightly higher pH than this one. o.O

I do rinse the intake sponges every week, and I just relaced them ...um, in the last 3 months sometime... don't remember exactly when, but the bettas were getting their fins in them and I tend to lose some moss too, so if I don't have to, I'd rather keep the intake sponges on.

I just ttired the pH up, lol, will look for the other one.
 
I started rinsing the intake sponges 2 and 3 times a week, sometimes they need it sometimes they don't.

I only got test strips (jungle) a couple weeks ago, as far as I remember

generally ph is 6 - 6.4
alkalinity 40ish to 80 but sometimes less than 40
hardness usually around 75 give or take (has finally settled back to this, disappeared for one or 2 tests)
nitrites: for the first several tests before changing as much water as I could without leaving the fish high and dry (approximately 16g) would read 10, after the wc would read 3.
Nitrate above 0 but less than 20

Second to last wc was Thursday.
Test readings before Monday's wc
pH 6
Alkilinity less than 40 , but above 0
Hardness 75ish (back to normal)
Nitrite 1 or less than 3
Nitrate closer to 20 than has been

After wc
pH 6.2
Alkalinity same (less than 40)
Hardness between 25 and 75
Nitrite .5 or 1 hard to tell (but less than it's been in weeks finally!)
Nitrate 10?

source water (i have previously tested a dechlorinated jug that had been sitting out for a day but i didn't write it down)
this was taken a few minutes after pouring and dechlorinating
pH 6.8
alkalinity 40
hardness 25
nitrites 0
nitrates 0
ammonia 0
 
stopped the pH up, it slowishly raised the pH to 7.6 (I only 2 tabs and hours from each other) then 2? weeks later it crashed to 6 (it had been lowering slowly but then went down suddenly. my poor fish! :( )
I had forgotten to add the nitraban the last several water changes, it really does seem to help with stability.
I stopped using the stress zyme for now and only occasionally use the kordon.
 
Geez, stop the pH up/down stuff, you need STABLE not any specific number. Gahhh, what is your "normal" tap water before screwing around & after 24-48 hours? You are doing the "yoyo effect", let it be STABLE, whatever that is...no wonder it stinks....What is your GH & KH? Sorry to be so bossy but this is the time to STOP & really understand the basics...
 
LOL, I only tried the ph up once and that was (i really don't remember the exact date within the last several weeks), it was due to someone here suggesting that might help with the smell due to the bacteria might have gone dormant because of the low ph. And I did stop, I said that up there ^. :)

it has been stinky / getting worse for months, it is not due to the ph stuff, it was smelly long before that.
The normal tap water as mentioned earlier in this thread runs 6.8 to 7.6

I don't remember which ones are gh and kh, I listed all the tests I have just above (about 2 well now 3 posts.)
 
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