As some of you know, I'm getting a new tank ready for a magnificent betta. I'm also getting a ten gallon ready for, I dunno, guppies I guess (sister's project but she doesn't understand the whole "cycling" thing). Anyway, today we tested the latter of the tanks to see if there has been any progress in the cycling. For three weeks we have had the same results: Ammonia at 3, no nitrite or nitrate. We tested pH and it is at about 8.4-8,8. It's my guess that this pH problem has caused the issue with forming bacteria. The pH in my cycling tank is only at 7.8, but I expect it to go down once I have done my water change before I stock the tank. Our tap water is 7.4. So how do I safely lower the pH to the 7 range? It's driving us both crazy that one tank is doing a magnificent job of cycling and the other is not. Any suggestions, friends?