Okay! I’ve had my tank running for ~4 months now. It’s a 30 gallon, with a heater and two sponge filters. It’s kept at 79 degrees and has a 10 hour light cycle (I’ve been meaning to change it to 8, I just keep forgetting. ADHD, am I right?) I can *never* seem to keep my total alkalinity or carbonates down. I’m planning to get some live plants to help with the nitrites, but they really haven’t been all that bad. It’s always stayed just a shade above safe. 

But I’m really here for his poor fins, I was able to help them release and heal a couple weeks ago using (a small amount) of freshwater salt in my tank, as well as antibacterial drops. I got fresh almond leaves for more tannins, and added a beneficial bacteria ball thing. This helped him a ton!…until the next water change. His fins are clumping again and he’s hanging out at the bottom a lot instead of his tubes at the top like usual. Water changes always stress this poor lad out, I don’t know what I’m doing!!! I make sure to treat the water, put it in slowly at temp, and even get a gallon of the betta safe water to add! I know I need to get the api master tester, switch to an 8 hour light cycle, and to get live plants, but what else?? I love him so much, he’s so pretty😭

He’s homed with 4 neon tetras, 3 albino Cory’s, and 2 nerite snails. He’s fed 2-5 pellets a day (I fast him 1-2 days out of the week usually depending on water parameters) and the rest of the buddies get a small amount of flakes so I don’t over feed. I do weekly water changes, at least 5 gallons out of the 30, sometimes more.

Help with my betta’s fins..again🫠