Betta behavior

Question
Hi- I have had my male betta (maybe a year old) for over 3 months in a 2.5 g tank with live plants. The pH is a consistent 6.6, temp at 80 degrees, all parameters are perfect. I change his water (incl. vacuuming) at least once a week. Due to the vacuuming (and evaporation), I lose a lot of water each cleaning but the parameters remain stable. I use Amquel+novaqua, aquarium salt, and tried pH 7.0 stuff but it doesn't work. Bluebird has never been sick or had fin rot and has a GREAT appetite. I mix it up with Hikari micro pellets and freeze-dried bloodworm. I think I was overfeeding so I have cut back alot on feeding. I replaced his 15w incandescent w/ a 10w florescent. I change the filter cartridge about every 3 weeks. I have been having a lot of trouble lately with oil slick although I haven't changed anything! I have been feeding from the same packages and using the same water products. Algae a nuisance (I think I leave the light on too long). I have Java fern that is OUT OF CONTROL. I keep cutting it down but now the tank is inundated with brown fluffy stuff all over everything. Anyhow, to the question! Bluebird eats well and responds happily to any attention but for the last month he loves to hang out on the pH indicator (or behind the heater and/or filter) all day and night. He swims a little but mostly sits there. He is playful/happy when family and I talk to him. But he doesn't blow bubble nests anymore. I worry he is lonely or bored. Lazy perhaps? Could the light be aggravating him? Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated- I'm so worried something is missing in his life!

Answer
Hi Katie
For your ph, just leave it be.  You'll do more damage stressing the fish out by trying to adjust it-and like you've found, the chemicals won't work unless you buffer the water in conjunction with it.  Your ph is great for the plants, and the betta should handle it just fine.  Most fish can handle ph ranges from 6.0-8.0 with no problems.  The key is keeping it stable and not fluctuating-which tends to happen when using those chemicals.  

Honestly, it doesn't really sound like much is wrong with Bluebird.  He's eating, swimming, reacts to you, you said the water parameters are good(ammonia and nitrites are 0 ppm, and nitrates under 20 ppm right?).  He may have decided not to make the nests because of the water agitation at the surface.  I've had a few males that didn't do that.  Try turning the light off and see if he's more active with it off, if he is, then just keep it off a bit more. I really hate to recommend adding another fish, that tank is a bit small for that.  I suppose you could try adding something that stays small, and isn't very colorful.  Or maybe even a few ghost shrimp.  They're cheap, and good bottom cleaners.  But the problem could very well be him being stressed from the ph, if it did adjust and fall back down any.  That will stress them.

For the oil slick, I have no idea what that could be.  The food would be my first guess, and maybe you've just noticed since changing out the lighting.  It's amazing the colors and how everything can change just from changing to a different bulb.

For the out of control java fern...ebay lol.  That's usually where I first look when I'm looking for plants.  

Hope that helps and let me know if you have more questions.

Christy