6.8 pH in tank, 7.8 on tap. Best way to do a water change?

I recently restarted my 3.5 gallon as I was starting to miss having a betta. I used already cycled ceramic rings and floss from my 1 year old 29 gallon to fill the HOB and then ran it on my 2 year old killifish tank for 2-3 weeks before setting the tank up. To make sure it "instantly cycled" my betta tank, I tested my water 24 hours after adding the betta (I added him wednesday) and then again tonight (48 hrs). I have never had a problem with pH as my tap was always 7.8 and the tanks were all 7.8 so to be honest I haven't tested my tap since this time last year. I used a new piece of driftwood for this tank and for a week it leeched some tannins and the tank was looking blackwater. I did a 90% WC while my betta acclimated. Now, i need to retest the tap which i will do tomorrow, but given that it is still 7.8, and my pH test is showing 6.8-7.0 for the betta tank, how should I go about water changes without shocking my betta? I think the low pH is because of the driftwood tannins given how small the tank volume is, would you agree? And given that logic, shouldn't my pH theoretically level back out to tap levels over time once the driftwood is done leeching? Again, I've never had an issue with low pH in a tank or had to worry about pH differences between the tap and tank so I'm not sure how to approach this...there is the possibility the pH of my local water supply changing over the last year...in that case I will post an update about that here and that will be the end of the issue lol.

 

I recently restarted my 3.5 gallon as I was starting to miss having a betta. I used already cycled ceramic rings and floss from my 1 year old 29 gallon to fill the HOB and then ran it on my 2 year old killifish tank for 2-3 weeks before setting the tank up. To make sure it "instantly cycled" my betta tank, I tested my water 24 hours after adding the betta (I added him wednesday) and then again tonight (48 hrs). I have never had a problem with pH as my tap was always 7.8 and the tanks were all 7.8 so to be honest I haven't tested my tap since this time last year. I used a new piece of driftwood for this tank and for a week it leeched some tannins and the tank was looking blackwater. I did a 90% WC while my betta acclimated. Now, i need to retest the tap which i will do tomorrow, but given that it is still 7.8, and my pH test is showing 6.8-7.0 for the betta tank, how should I go about water changes without shocking my betta? I think the low pH is because of the driftwood tannins given how small the tank volume is, would you agree? And given that logic, shouldn't my pH theoretically level back out to tap levels over time once the driftwood is done leeching? Again, I've never had an issue with low pH in a tank or had to worry about pH differences between the tap and tank so I'm not sure how to approach this...there is the possibility the pH of my local water supply changing over the last year...in that case I will post an update about that here and that will be the end of the issue lol.

Depending on the size of the tank and size of the wood it may take a longgggg time for the wood to stop having an effect on water

 

Depending on the size of the tank and size of the wood it may take a longgggg time for the wood to stop having an effect on water

Its 3.5 gallons but it is just a small piece of spiderwood, not thick trunks like in my 29 gallon. I've used spiderwood in 3 other aquascapes and never had it leech like this (all pieces were prepped and sandblasted). It took a few months for the thick wood to stop leeching. 2 days after the water change and the water hasn't darkened yet. My main concern is how to do 50% water changes with my betta if there is such a big difference in pH than the tap.

 

There's a drip method if you are willing. You put the bucket with new water on a platform higher than the betta's tank. Siphon water through it with an airline tubing and tie the airline tubing into a knot and it will turn into a drip. It's a lot of hassle but it is one way to do water changes with differing parameters lol.

Also, your water probably has low KH if the pH swings so easily

 

you can also make a drip valve with an airline tubing air shutoff valve instead of a knot....Also, do 35 percent weekly changes instead of 50 percent, easier on your betta.... check your tap ph weekly to know what it is too... and also check your tap water ph 24 hours after getting it out of the tap as it will change after gassing out.

 

you can also make a drip valve with an airline tubing air shutoff valve instead of a knot....Also, do 35 percent weekly changes instead of 50 percent, easier on your betta.... check your tap ph weekly to know what it is too... and also check your tap water ph 24 hours after getting it out of the tap as it will change after gassing out.

Thanks for the tip about testing my pH after 24 hours, I wasnt aware of that. My cats fished out my betta last night while I was sleeping and ate it. Water was everywhere. I spent my morning crying and moving the tank to a new place where I cant see it as much but the cats have no access to. Ive never had my cats do this through the years of me having tanks. Ill work on figuring out and balancing the pH while I wait to find a new betta to put in here, in the meantime I will probably move two of my killifish over to the tank to keep the filter cycled while I figure out the betta situation. I won't have to worry much about pH with the killis at least.

 

Oh darn

 

Oh darn

Yeah I almost tore the tank down and gave up despite just setting it up a month ago. He was the third betta I had to buy because the two I tried to purchase previously had died in the breeders care before shipping. Apparently the universe DOES NOT want me to enjoy another betta. I only had this little guy one week and was growing fond of him. Its partially my fault, I should have considered this happening despite having a lid on the tank. Somehow the cats pryed it off. Not to mention they splashed water everywhere and ruined half of my makeup.....so yeah just a bad day overall. I feel terrible.

 

keep your betta tank where you like it, and cat proof your top... tt wont be difficult.

 

keep your betta tank where you like it, and cat proof your top... tt wont be difficult.

I already moved it to a high shelf in my living room, also there's no way to not have at least one hole in the lid because of the HOB filter, which im assuming is how he pryed the lid off in the first place because my lid has clips on it. Anyone want 3 cats? (Jk)

 

Just to clear up any confusion about my original post...my local water supply did change in pH since last year. It came out of the tap at 7.0-6.8 and I tested a bottle of refill water leftover from my last water change that sat for a week and it tested a 6.6-6.8 so I suppose that explains why my pH was lower than I thought. Not because of the driftwood tannins