Today I did a water change in my bettas 5 gallon tank. I changed about a gallon and a half of water. After I changed his water, I also fixed the background of his tank (it was coming off a little, so I used a little bit of baby oil to glue it onto the back, and then taped the edges) since he was flaring at some spots every once in awhile. Now, he won't stop flaring at one corner of the tank. I also have a bubble bar along the back of the tank, so anytime he tries to go flare at his reflection, he ends up getting pushed up by the bubbles and trying to fight the current down. He'll keep going at the corner for a minute or so, then stop to rest in a plant, and sit there gasping for air. He's been doing this for at least an hour now. He also has his mouth completely wide open. I'm guessing he's doing this from being so stressed from his reflection.
BUT, I'm also concerned that it's the change in pH. The tap water on my college campus is terrible (nitrates of about 30, pH of above 8.8, the highest my test kit will read) so when I went home for the weekend last weekend, I brought back a couple of gallons of water from home to try to reduce the nitrates. The pH of my water at home is 7.8. Ever since I came back to school from home, I've been replacing the water that evaporated with the water from home. So when I changed about a gallon and a half of water today, I didn't think it would effect the pH too drastically. I just tested my pH, and it's at a solid 8.2.
Is it the drop in pH that's causing the big problem? Or the stress? Or a combination of the two? Right now I have both his tank light off and the lights in my room around his tank to try to eliminate whatever reflection he's finding. He's calmed down a little bit, but still returns to the corner to flare about every 5 minutes. And what can I do about the pH? Should I do another water change (maybe like 3/4 of a gallon?) and fill the tank with tap water from my school to bring the pH back up? Or would that stress him out even more?
Sorry for the long post and I appreciate any advice you guys have for me!
BUT, I'm also concerned that it's the change in pH. The tap water on my college campus is terrible (nitrates of about 30, pH of above 8.8, the highest my test kit will read) so when I went home for the weekend last weekend, I brought back a couple of gallons of water from home to try to reduce the nitrates. The pH of my water at home is 7.8. Ever since I came back to school from home, I've been replacing the water that evaporated with the water from home. So when I changed about a gallon and a half of water today, I didn't think it would effect the pH too drastically. I just tested my pH, and it's at a solid 8.2.
Is it the drop in pH that's causing the big problem? Or the stress? Or a combination of the two? Right now I have both his tank light off and the lights in my room around his tank to try to eliminate whatever reflection he's finding. He's calmed down a little bit, but still returns to the corner to flare about every 5 minutes. And what can I do about the pH? Should I do another water change (maybe like 3/4 of a gallon?) and fill the tank with tap water from my school to bring the pH back up? Or would that stress him out even more?
Sorry for the long post and I appreciate any advice you guys have for me!
But he still won't stop flaring. He's just sitting at the back, staring at the background flaring.