Previously I had answered – Can guppies live with bettas?
Now that you’ve decided to keep them together, you must be responsible enough to fulfill their requirement.
Even though you’ve got a lot of tasks at hand, your biggest challenge is maintaining the ph for guppies and betta fish.
Anything more or less than the recommended value can turn out to be quite disastrous for your fish.
OK.
So, what should be recommended pH for guppies?
Unlike betta, Guppies can survive both lower & higher pH levels.
Still, the pH for guppies should always range between 6.8 and 7.6.
More than maintaining the pH limit, a guppy fish requires a balanced level.
Any unprecedented change can easily lead to increased stress levels & illness in your guppy.
So, up next in this post, I’ll share ways to manage & maintain the recommended pH levels of the fish tank water.
But first, let’s understand why you should monitor the pH levels of a fish tank for Guppies?
Why Should You Maintain a Proper pH for Guppies?
Despite changes in their environment, guppies quickly adapt.
However, for them to feel comfortable, they need to feel at home.
Although they can tolerate a wide range of pH levels, they are also limited in their capabilities.
Guppies will eventually develop an unhealthy living environment resulting from constant pH variations and uncomfortable living areas.
It is precisely at that point that a pH level of 7 is ideal for guppy growth.
How to Monitor the pH Level of your Fish Tank?
With the availability of pH-test kits, it is now effortless to monitor the pH level of all types of water.
In addition to being sold in pet stores, you can also order these kits online.
One way to perform a pH test is to either dip a test strip into aquarium water or collect a sample and add a few drops of test solution.
After the sample is taken, you can calculate the approximate pH of your tank water by comparing the sample color to the chart that came with the kit.
To ensure that the pH levels in your guppy tank remain at a stable level, I recommend you to check them weekly.
Finding the Reason Behind Drop in pH for Guppies
Ammonia builds up in tanks when they are not taken care of (you don’t replace the water, clean it, or wipe it).
Ammonia will spread more rapidly in dirty aquariums. Therefore, reducing the pH levels.
In addition, you may have to consider adding new water to the tank as another factor.
By pouring it in directly, you are risking a sudden drop in the pH levels of your fish tank.
How to Maintain pH for Guppies?
You need not worry about pH changes with guppies since they are so resilient to changes in water chemistry.
It may be necessary to correct your tank’s pH if, for some reason, it spikes or falls extremely low.
How to Lower the pH Levels?
Using Carbon Dioxide Injector
There is the possibility that using a carbon dioxide injector may be the most effective way to lower the pH.
So, you should monitor the pH change in your guppy tank every time you modify the pH.
TIP – Try to go all-natural first and only use this method as your final resort.
Plant catappa leaves in the tank.
Adding aquarium plants to your fish tank can be highly beneficial. And by choosing catappa leaves instead of calcium chloride, you can naturally reduce the pH for guppies.
If these plants are submerged in water for a while, they will release tannins into that water.
The yellow coloring reduces the pH level of the water and provides a cozy habitat for the guppy.
In addition to these properties, they exhibit anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties as well.
Get some driftwood
Choose a natural object if you want to drop the pH without introducing toxins to the guppies in your aquarium.
Luckily, driftwood comes in handy in situations like this.
The properties of the leaves are similar to those of catappa leaves, and comparatively, the short-term effects are favorable.
However, be sure to soak it before adding it to the tank to avoid potential problems.
Add substrate or rocks to the tank.
Rocks are part of the natural habitat, so if you want a comfortable living space, you should copy that.
So, keep the pH level stable by adding flat rocks without pointy edges to the tank.
Getting creative is not a problem here since there is plenty of space. Also, it’s not possible to add these rocks & substrate to a small fish tank.
So, it’s recommended to have at least a 30 gallon home aquarium.
How to Increase pH Levels?
Using Baking Soda
A simple method to increase pH is adding one tablespoon of baking soda per 10 gallons of water.
Replace the Water Frequently
If the pH level drops very often, replace the water more frequently.
This will reduce the pH of the water because leftover food releases pollutants.
An easy solution to the problem is to perform routine cleanings.
But, when replacing the water, make sure that you do not shock the fish.
TIP – If you find this cleaning process boring, use these creative hacks to make this all fun.
Consider Adding Aerating Decorations
It isn’t just about looks when it comes to aerating ornaments.
As a result, they produce bubbles that allow the air to circulate and stabilize pH levels.
It’s not just decorations like air stones, pumps, and devices that can help manage the pH for guppies.
Consider investing in macroalgae.
Hundreds of species of macroalgae form a natural seabed that is the ideal habitat for this type of fish.
It benefits increasing pH levels and provides fish with a fantastic hiding place.
To avoid overgrowth, you should cut them now and then.
Concluding Lines
Now that you know the importance of proper ph for guppies, I hope you will easily maintain it using the valuable tips added in this post.
Still, if you need any help in this matter, let us know in the comments below.