How can I increase the PH of my betta aquarium?

[apple]

How can I increase the PH of my betta aquarium?
He doesn't seem constipated anymore. No more "cotton", but he is still not eating and kind of bored and in 45 degrees.
I bought something to check the ph and I thought was ok, but it's not. It is 6.4.
Is there natural way to increase it or just buying that stuff at the pet store for it?

[hvincent]

6.4 is a little on the low side; I've never personally messed with the pH of an aquarium, but I've known people to use some clean crushed coral or seashells (you can put them in a teabag and bury it in the gravel) as that raises the hardness of the water, which also raises the pH. Speaking of which, do you know how hard your water is?

Just be careful you don't jack up the pH too quickly, as that can hurt your fish just as much as having the water be too acidic. Raising the pH is safer and easier than lowering it, but as with any water quality change, it still must be done over the course of a few days to keep your betta from going into shock.

I believe bettas do alright between 6.5 and 7.0, but as close to 7.0 as possible is ideal.

[bettalvr]

There are several products on the market for raising pH. Just be careful b/c like stated, a rapid rise can kill fish. Have you tested your tap water? If it is higher, then do a partial water change. If you have hard water, you may want to check on a sodium bicarbonate too.

[wiccansinger]

your tank sounds either too hot or too cold (was it 45 degrees F or 45 degrees C???) it should be around 80 degrees F (or aprox 27 degrees C).. and as stated before you can get kits for it, and you should do the lowering or raising of PH slowly as to not hurt your fish.

[hvincent]

I think OP meant the fish was hanging at a 45 degree angle...

[wiccansinger]

iv not been very awake lately >.< looking back it probably is the angle not heat... thanks vincent ^.^