Questions about water quality?

[Darkicydevil]

I used some test strips on the water I'm gonna put my new betta in, (the test strips are all I can get where I live, and I just need to keep a general eye on the water) and it says my pH is 7.8-8.4 (alkaline), my kH is high, and my water hardness is very soft.

Are these parameters safe for a betta???? and 2 nerite snails ?

[lilnaugrim]

Betta's will adapt to pretty much anything as long as you acclimate him well enough. I know some people who have their Betta's at 8.2

Currently some of my boys are at 6, others at 6.5 and my sorority at 7.4-7.6, so I wouldn't worry to much :)

[Darkicydevil]

Well that makes me feel a little better : ) What about the snails?

[lilnaugrim]

Not sure, perhaps you could google it and see what they like :)

I feel though, with acclimation that most can get used to different pH levels and what not, but of course the more delicate fish/inverts and what need the specific levels :)

[themountain]

Originally Posted by Darkicydevil

my pH is 7.8-8.4 (alkaline), my kH is high, and my water hardness is very soft.

Are these parameters safe for a betta???? and 2 nerite snails ?

Simple answer : NO
Question: How can the water hardness be soft if the KH is high??

[Darkicydevil]

Originally Posted by themountain

Simple answer : NO
Question: How can the water hardness be soft if the KH is high??

I don't know? The only thing I have access to is test strips, but they cant be SUPER inaccurate, it should still be a general range of the levels.

[themountain]

Just have a look at this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_water

I wouldn´t keep Bettas in alkaline water as mentioned before if you want to have them healthy for a longer time ;)

[Darkicydevil]

Originally Posted by themountain

Just have a look at this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_water

I wouldn´t keep Bettas in alkaline water as mentioned before if you want to have them healthy for a longer time ;)

Well something has to be wrong then, cause I can't be alkaline and have "very soft" water. What's going on what should I do?

[lilnaugrim]

Dark, what told you that you had soft water? Was it the strip? If so then I wouldn't trust any of them, as you had already mentioned they can be faulty and such. I know it's not easy to get the liquid test kit but if maybe you could convince your parents to loan you some cash or something for the master kit, that would be best :)

Also I had looked up Nerites and it said that no pH under 7.0 is good for them, so all above is what you want. And with your's being in the higher range, that's good for them :)

[Darkicydevil]

Originally Posted by lilnaugrim

Dark, what told you that you had soft water? Was it the strip? If so then I wouldn't trust any of them, as you had already mentioned they can be faulty and such. I know it's not easy to get the liquid test kit but if maybe you could convince your parents to loan you some cash or something for the master kit, that would be best :)

Also I had looked up Nerites and it said that no pH under 7.0 is good for them, so all above is what you want. And with your's being in the higher range, that's good for them :)

Ok, well do you know somewhere I can get a cheaper liquid test kit?

And yay! That's good at least : )