New Beta - Ph Levels too high

[TaiPei]

We just bought a Beta yesterday, he was in the pet store in the tiny cups. We have a ten gallon tank that we decided to set up for him.......we hadn't planned on getting him, so our tank was not pre set up.
Anyway, I set it up last night and tested the water, and found that everything is great but my pH. It was 7.6 or higher. We have really hard water. So I have added Seachem pH 7.0 Neutral Regulator. Well, I have had to add almost twice as much as reccomended to get it around 7.2-7.4
I really do not want to add anymore. Other then the peat moss, is there another way to get the pH lower? Will he do okay in this water? I am afraid to put him in. He is still in his "pet store jar" until I cn figure out what to do with him.
Thank you for any help!!!!

By the way, his name is TaiPei (TiePay)

 

[Larissa]

I've kept Bettas in pH around 8. He should be fine. Do a water change and get that pH regulator out of there.

 

[TaiPei]

Should I only do a partial change and the do another in a few days/week??

 

[Genral72]

It really doesn't matter unless you've started the cycle how much you change and even then it shouldn't matter. Just remember to use chlorine/chloramine remover. If you don't know what the cycle is just tell me and I will give you a link. Also remember you need a filter and heater. Ask before you do anything.

 

[TaiPei]

I have a heater set to 78 degrees. I also have a chlorine remover(drops). I would love to have the link for a cycle. Although I have heard about it, I am not 100% sure how to do it. We are buying a new filter for our tank tomorrow.

Thank you very much for helping me.

 

[liv2padl]

http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/start_up/start_up4.html

http://www.pubnix.net/~spond/filter/nitrogen.html

http://fish.orbust.net/cycling.html

 

[Darwin]

I have a betta in a 5G any the pH of my water is about 8. When I started out I (and my fish) got into a bit of trouble messing around with 'pH down'. Thankfully, the wise people here set me right. Your betta should adjust fine to the pH of your water so long as it is stable (which it won't be if you mess around with pH).

I hope you can get your betta out of it's tiny cup ASAP - I am sure it will be much happier in the bigger tank.

 

[minnesotagal866]

My opinion as always, but I wouldn't worry about a cycle if it is 1 betta in a 10G tank. If you do a 30% water change once a week, I'd be surprised if the ammonia levels ever got high. When I had a betta in a 2G fish bowl (since upgraded to a 5.5G) I would test my water and never had an ammonia reading--changing the water 2x a week. Adding some low light plants (and making sure you have a flourescent bulb if you do) will also contribute to water qualty and the betta will appreciate it too--mine weaves in and out of the plants and rests on the leaves. They also like places to hide. For plants, a nice piece of driftwood with a little java moss and java fern tied on, a melon sword or two (or 5!), a crypt or two, some floating anachris or water sprite would look nice. Plants also use up the bad stuff and silently cycle your tank.

Jackie