Can Anyone Advise Me? Discus In Hard Water Area

[petertr]

Hi,
I was pointed to this forum as someone said you guys could possibly help me.


I finally put Discus fish in my tank at the weekend after about 2 years of wanting to do so.

Tested the water last night however, and its far worse than I thought.

pH is 7.7
GH was off the chart - actually ran out of the chemical needed to test it!
KH was about 13 degrees


(Not concerned with the biological stuff [ammonia cycle stuff], I know how to control that).


Got some questions:

I tested some britta filtered water. pH was about 6.8, Kh about 3 degees
- Can I use britta filtered water (alongside normal treated tap water) in my tank to lower pH and hardness?

- Does old bog wood still soften water? Or should I replace it every so often?

- Does peat help much?


Any help on those would be great.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

Hi,
I was pointed to this forum as someone said you guys could possibly help me.


I finally put Discus fish in my tank at the weekend after about 2 years of wanting to do so.

Tested the water last night however, and its far worse than I thought.

pH is 7.7
GH was off the chart - actually ran out of the chemical needed to test it!
KH was about 13 degrees


(Not concerned with the biological stuff [ammonia cycle stuff], I know how to control that).


Got some questions:

I tested some britta filtered water. pH was about 6.8, Kh about 3 degees
- Can I use britta filtered water (alongside normal treated tap water) in my tank to lower pH and hardness?

- Does old bog wood still soften water? Or should I replace it every so often?

- Does peat help much?


Any help on those would be great.

old bogwood wont lower it a smuch , try peat

whats your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[petertr]

old bogwood wont lower it a smuch , try peat

whats your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

I'll try some peat. Will drop it in the bottom of the box filter that came with my Rio 300.


Ammonia, nirtrite and nitrate - I don't need help with those. That's just standard fishkeeping stuff that I already know how to handle.



Anyone got any thoughts on using britta filtered water instead of RO?

 

[rocknurworld2006]

old bogwood wont lower it a smuch , try peat

whats your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

I'll try some peat. Will drop it in the bottom of the box filter that came with my Rio 300.


Ammonia, nirtrite and nitrate - I don't need help with those. That's just standard fishkeeping stuff that I already know how to handle.



Anyone got any thoughts on using britta filtered water instead of RO?

yes but what are your levels anyway?

 

[petertr]

No ammonia or Nitrite at all
Haven't tested for Nitrate.

Have about a dozen live plants - so with bi-weekly water changes, I wouldn't expect that to rise.


Only have 5 3-4" discus in the 300L tank - so not expecting huge issues with the bioloical conditions anyway - as the filters are well used from the oscars I had previously.

 

[jaycat]

There are some very knowledegable Discus keepers on this forum who I'm sure will be able to answer your questions. I'm setting a Discus tank up and have just bought an RO unit as my water stats are as bad as yours. I believe that you have to replace minerals that the RO unit has removed from your tap water, so I would have thought that this would also have to be a consideration of yours.
I have to admit I wuld not think of filter water as bi weekly changes of 30%-50% would need ALOT of filter water in your Rio 300.
Some people however I am sure will say that this may not be needed at all.
I hope someone with experience answers your queston for you.