Discus Egg Water

[apester]

Hello,

I have a pair of Pigeon Blood Discus that have laid eggs about 5 times now without anything hatching. I am guessing my water is to hard and the eggs aren't developing properly. Water parameters are:
Temp 84F
PH 7.6
dGH 12
dKH 12
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0

I purchased an R/O unit and have about 30 gallons of purified water in a container.
PH 6.7
dGH 0
dKH 0

I added Kent R/O to bring up dGH general hardness it is now dGH 3 - 4. But my dKH carbonate hardness never went above 0 so I thought that would be a problem not keeping my pH stable. I then added Seachem Netural Regulator pH 7.0. Now dKH is at 4 and PH went up to pH 7.2. Will this level of dKH keep a stable pH? Also is the pH at 7.2 a problem for egg development if my dKH and dGH are low? Now my parameters in the container are:
PH 7.2
dGH 3 - 4
dKH 4
Temp 84F

I also added Discus Essential. I plan on making 25% water changes over the next week with this R/O water. Will that be enough time for the Discus to acclimate properly? I hope making the water soft will be enough to make the eggs hatch.

Thanks,
Ape

 

[Alex_]

yes, Discus Eggs wont devolop properly if the Ph and Hardness are to high.

Also have you seen your pair laying eggs, the male may not be fertilision them.

and your plann sounds good, Make sure to age your water for discus before water changes.

-Alex

 

[apester]

I have seen the female lay the eggs and then the male fertilize them. The eggs get some color to them only a small amount turn white. I also watch and the discus are not eating the eggs for the first few days. I guess eventually they eat the eggs when they don't hatch about 3 - 4 days later.

Does the pH matter for egg development or is it just the hardness of the water? Because I have pH 7.2 but dGH and dKH both at 4 which would mean I have soft water right? Also if dKH is low does that mean I have acidic water? Or does the pH have to be low for the water to be considered acidic?

Thanks,
Ape

 

[John_Nicholson]

It is the hardness of the water that makes the difference. The low Ph is really a side affect of softwater more then a requirement for the eggs. You might treat the eggs with some sort of anti-fungal medication. You could also have a streile male but that does not seem to be the case. Not sure what the bioload of the tank is but I would reduce it if possible.

-john

 

[apester]

It is the hardness of the water that makes the difference. The low Ph is really a side affect of softwater more then a requirement for the eggs. You might treat the eggs with some sort of anti-fungal medication. You could also have a streile male but that does not seem to be the case. Not sure what the bioload of the tank is but I would reduce it if possible.

-john

I have the 2 discus in a 30 gallon tank nothing else. I have a sponge filter and I do 40% water changes every other day. I thought it is just the water hardness too but wasn't sure. I thought low pH is a side affect of softwater also but my pH in my container is 7.2 which is kind of high and I have dKH of 4 and dGH 3 which would be softwater. So why is my pH 7.2 and not 6.5 or something lower than 7.2? I used Neutral Regulator so I am guessing that is why but it should bring pH to 7.0 not 7.2.

Thanks,
Ape

 

[John_Nicholson]

The metabolic waste given off by fish are acids. In softwater they will cause the Ph to lower because it has little buffering ablity. In other words the Ph should lower a fair bit after it is in the tank a lttle while.

Good luck.

-john