pH crash, but FW

[wbwhale]

Thought I'd ask this here as it seems like the best forum for real knowledge that I've found! (<3 RC)

So I have a 5.5gal with one betta. pH has generally sat at 7.4, which is pretty close to our tap water. I added a couple Java ferns this weekend and checked pH after a night with them in the tank... and it's 6.4. Now that I'm reading, I think the "dirt" on the roots may have crashed the pH.

I'm going to rinse the plants off more in case I can get anything else off, but I have to decide what to do about this. I'm thinking small twice daily water changes? I don't want to subject the betta to huge pH swings.

Is there some other obvious cause I might be missing?

 

[ericarenee]

What kind of filtration Aeration do you have .Sounds like the fern Ate up all the co2 in the tank ...

 

[wbwhale]

It just has a 10 gallon power filter, no aeration or CO2 system. I asked in a different forum and was told the fern should be fine, but perhaps not...

I just did a small (10%) water change and will check levels in a half hour or so.

 

[ericarenee]

It just has a 10 gallon power filter, no aeration or CO2 system. I asked in a different forum and was told the fern should be fine, but perhaps not...

I just did a small (10%) water change and will check levels in a half hour or so.

If yo have one i would put a small air stone in there Depending on that filter you could put it in the back of it... I used to do that with fresh water tanks long long ago..
We do have a semi planted 72 gal tank but we have a sump and a lot of water movement.. The top is closed and we had ph issues before adding air defuser and air stone into the sump .