Discus Water Changes

[Rlon35]

I have a fully planted tank and am addding all my other stock before my discus. I was planning on doing weekly, 70 percent water changes. The breeded is local, and he uses the same tap water I use. He states that he just adds PRIME to it, so the water is the same, and my temperature is the same as his 83 to 84 degrees.

Here is my question. Can I add the tap water directly to the tank provided I add the Prime as soon as I start refilling it. I am in a very msall apartment and am limited by space. I have a python, which makes the water changes much easier, but I can't really dechlorinate before the water goes in the tank. Thus far it has worked OK with Cardinals, but it's only been two changes. Just before turning on the refill valve, I add a capful of PRIME. Is this OK?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I have a fully planted tank and am addding all my other stock before my discus. I was planning on doing weekly, 70 percent water changes. The breeded is local, and he uses the same tap water I use. He states that he just adds PRIME to it, so the water is the same, and my temperature is the same as his 83 to 84 degrees.

Here is my question. Can I add the tap water directly to the tank provided I add the Prime as soon as I start refilling it. I am in a very msall apartment and am limited by space. I have a python, which makes the water changes much easier, but I can't really dechlorinate before the water goes in the tank. Thus far it has worked OK with Cardinals, but it's only been two changes. Just before turning on the refill valve, I add a capful of PRIME. Is this OK?

The only thing you have to be careful with is that the pH from the tap (normally decreased by C02 gas bubbles) and the tank are the same, and the temperature is the same. Although it's not ideal admittedly I do this. I used to age my water, but I found out that if I put the tap on extremely low and fill the tank very slowly, there is no C02 (gas bubbles) in the tap water going into the tank. The fish are fine with it, but I monitor the temperature very closely and tweak it throughout the water change when needed. If you notice tiny bubbles, the fish getting stressed, or the fish losing their slime coat you will need to either run it slower or get an aging barrel. I also add prime straight into the tank before I start filling. I too live in an apartment and getting a aging barrel for my living room tank was not going to happen

HTH,

Connor

 

[meguro]

so do wild discus simply die if theres torrential rain?

 

[Rlon35]

I have a fully planted tank and am addding all my other stock before my discus. I was planning on doing weekly, 70 percent water changes. The breeded is local, and he uses the same tap water I use. He states that he just adds PRIME to it, so the water is the same, and my temperature is the same as his 83 to 84 degrees.

Here is my question. Can I add the tap water directly to the tank provided I add the Prime as soon as I start refilling it. I am in a very msall apartment and am limited by space. I have a python, which makes the water changes much easier, but I can't really dechlorinate before the water goes in the tank. Thus far it has worked OK with Cardinals, but it's only been two changes. Just before turning on the refill valve, I add a capful of PRIME. Is this OK?

The only thing you have to be careful with is that the pH from the tap (normally decreased by C02 gas bubbles) and the tank are the same, and the temperature is the same. Although it's not ideal admittedly I do this. I used to age my water, but I found out that if I put the tap on extremely low and fill the tank very slowly, there is no C02 (gas bubbles) in the tap water going into the tank. The fish are fine with it, but I monitor the temperature very closely and tweak it throughout the water change when needed. If you notice tiny bubbles, the fish getting stressed, or the fish losing their slime coat you will need to either run it slower or get an aging barrel. I also add prime straight into the tank before I start filling. I too live in an apartment and getting a aging barrel for my living room tank was not going to happen

HTH,

Connor

Thanks Connor. Yes, that does help. I have noticed bubbles everywhere when I have filled it fast. My riccia looked like it was pearling. So, as I am sotcking it and tweeking the system before adding any discus, I will try filling it slower. Perhaps I should take the 'large gravel tube' off the end and just fill through submerged standard tubing. I take it I should cut my CO2 diffuser off when I do this???

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I have a fully planted tank and am addding all my other stock before my discus. I was planning on doing weekly, 70 percent water changes. The breeded is local, and he uses the same tap water I use. He states that he just adds PRIME to it, so the water is the same, and my temperature is the same as his 83 to 84 degrees.

Here is my question. Can I add the tap water directly to the tank provided I add the Prime as soon as I start refilling it. I am in a very msall apartment and am limited by space. I have a python, which makes the water changes much easier, but I can't really dechlorinate before the water goes in the tank. Thus far it has worked OK with Cardinals, but it's only been two changes. Just before turning on the refill valve, I add a capful of PRIME. Is this OK?

The only thing you have to be careful with is that the pH from the tap (normally decreased by C02 gas bubbles) and the tank are the same, and the temperature is the same. Although it's not ideal admittedly I do this. I used to age my water, but I found out that if I put the tap on extremely low and fill the tank very slowly, there is no C02 (gas bubbles) in the tap water going into the tank. The fish are fine with it, but I monitor the temperature very closely and tweak it throughout the water change when needed. If you notice tiny bubbles, the fish getting stressed, or the fish losing their slime coat you will need to either run it slower or get an aging barrel. I also add prime straight into the tank before I start filling. I too live in an apartment and getting a aging barrel for my living room tank was not going to happen

HTH,

Connor

Thanks Connor. Yes, that does help. I have noticed bubbles everywhere when I have filled it fast. My riccia looked like it was pearling. So, as I am sotcking it and tweeking the system before adding any discus, I will try filling it slower. Perhaps I should take the 'large gravel tube' off the end and just fill through submerged standard tubing. I take it I should cut my CO2 diffuser off when I do this???

Yes, you will notice the pearling because it's a huge increase in C02. I guess you could turn the diffuser off and try to get the pH stable with tank/tap when filling, but I think that would be extremely difficult. Best to keep it on and fill with good tap water.

so do wild discus simply die if theres torrential rain?

Is this a serious question?