Need Ph Advice For My New 5g Betta Tank

I have a new 5 gallon tank and am currently doing a fishless cyle. When it's complete, I plan on putting a male Betta in this tank, but I'm wondering if I should be concerned about my pH.

For the purpose of my post today, my pH is at 8.0. This tank has just begun cycling (Ammonia creeping up), so I won't bother with the other parameters right now. I'm not expecting the pH to go any lower, even after cycling, because I already have an established 20 gallon tank, and that pH always measures 8.0, without fail. The critters in my 20 gallon seem quite healthy and happy - 6 neons, 2 platy, 1 fancy guppy and 3 nerites on cleanup duty.

So, is it a bad idea to introduce a Betta into the 8.0 pH when the 5 gallon is ready?

My stocking plan for the 5 gallon: the Betta, a small piece of MopanI (after the tannins leach a bit more), and maybe a Nerite snail after algae starts creeping up. I also have planted a Lilaeopsis and a few sprigs of Anacharis. As for the Mopani, I don't expect it to really alter the pH, because it has not done so in the larger tank.

I have well water. It's delicious and definitely way healthier than the city water, and I have no plans to get a RO filtration system. The downside is that my pH is on the high side. I know about peat pellets and Catappa leaves, but have read conflicting reports about whether these actually work for lowering pH.

 

You're pH is Perfect! no need to want to change it at all!

Only time you need to worry about having exact pH is when you are keeping wild caught fish and I really doubt the betta is wild caught

 

You're pH is Perfect! no need to want to change it at all!

Only time you need to worry about having exact pH is when you are keeping wild caught fish and I really doubt the betta is wild caught

So just traditional acclimation should work? I cannot tell you how excited I am to get this Betta!!!!

 

Yes, traditional acclimation should do the trick! just as long as your pH is stable, your fish will do great!

 

If you are worried the pH difference may shock him, you always drip acclimate him.

 

The more important thing is that the pH is stable and doesn't fluctuate. Other than that most fish will adapt just fine. There are always exceptions, but your betta will do fine Definitely post some pics when you get your new boy into his new home.

 

I have a betta in a 5.5 gallon tank, ph is around 7.6-7.8 (hard to tell with the apI test kit what it is exactly) and he does just fine, if that's any help =)

 

The more important thing is that the pH is stable and doesn't fluctuate. Other than that most fish will adapt just fine. There are always exceptions, but your betta will do fine Definitely post some pics when you get your new boy into his new home.