Bettas are a popular fish species that prefer soft water, but can tolerate a wide range of GH between 5 and 20 DH or 70 to 300 ppm. Very hard water can be harmful to bettas, so it's best to keep the pH below 7.0. Indian almond leaves, alder cones and the mix of reverse osmosis or distilled water can reduce the hardness of the water. The degree of hardness (dH) of water is the measure of the mineral salts in the fish tank water.
To determine which water source for betta is the most popular, I conducted a survey in a popular betta group on Facebook. Chlorine and chloramine are extremely toxic to fish and beneficial bacteria in the fish tank, so you'll need to dechlorinate tap water with an aquarium water conditioner before adding it to the tank. Well water for betta fish may be a good option, but you'll need to make sure that it doesn't contain contaminants or other chemicals. Bettas thrive in neutral waters with a pH value of 7.5, but a value between 6.5 and 7.5 is sufficient for this fish.
Before adding your new betta to your fish tank, you should keep a few things in mind to ensure that the process goes as smoothly and safely as possible. The specific water for betta is dechlorinated, contains no ammonia and has a balanced pH, so it can be added directly to the tank without any additional preparation. You can test tap water with an aquarium analysis kit to check its pH, hardness and levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and make sure that it is suitable for betta fish. Bottled water and spring water can be a good choice for betta fish, since, unlike distilled water, it hasn't been treated to remove minerals and nutrients such as iron and calcium.
Alternatively, you can buy specially designed beta water at most fish stores, but keep in mind that it can be expensive, especially in large fish tanks. Distillation can result in clean water, but you'll need to remineralize it before using it in a beta tank. Bottled spring water for betta fish is the safest option, but be sure to check the type of minerals and nutrients it contains, as well as its pH and hardness levels.Another possible cause of harm to bettas is keeping them in tanks that are too small, which makes it easier for chemicals to accumulate. To ensure your betta's safety and health, make sure you have the right size tank with the correct temperature and hardness levels.
