Keeping Discus

[Clown King]

Hi all,

To keep discus sucesfully in ro water, what would i have to mix with ro water to create a stable PH Level, and would there be any other additives needed.
Thanks

 

[kamel_007]

Look :

Discus need a very soft water and slightly acidic..

water parameter's should be :

1. Gh 30 ppm

2. Kh 1~2.5

3. Ph 6.0~6.5

that's it...

if u add peat or black water extract would be better...

 

[Fish_Mike]

Look :

Discus need a very soft water and slightly acidic..

water parameter's should be :

1. Gh 30 ppm

2. Kh 1~2.5

3. Ph 6.0~6.5

that's it...

if u add peat or black water extract would be better...

This is exactly what i don't like to hear, it gives Discus a bad name.

Discus are just as flexible as other fish. Over time they'll adjust to your water, as long as extremes are avoided.
Breeding would be hard if the water WAS outside of these parametes, but raising a few generations in your tap water would no doubt increasing the chances.

Discus don't 'need' anything. In fact, the only thing they 'need' is a temperature around 84'F at which their immune systems will strengthen.

No offense Kamel_007, honestly, just wanted to rant.

 

[sylvia]

Though tank-bred discus can adapt to different water parameters, because it's more difficult to breed them at a higher pH/hardness, most have been raised in soft water and, like any other fish, they will not do well if suddenly plunged into water of a different chemistry. Also, wild-caught discus do need the same parameters as the water they live in the wild has (at least at first). I do agree that you should try to get them used to your tap water as they won't do any better than other fish if your tank's constantly fluctuating. Just make sure you either do this gradualy or buy the fish from a source that's also using that same tap water.

 

[Fish_Mike]

No doubt about very slowly acclimating them, but like Sylvia said, most Discus are raised in soft water.

Those coming from Thailand and southern Asia, as i've read, are raised moderately Alkaline water. Ph 7-7.5

Knowing where your Discus come from would really help.

 

[IMCL85]

I kept mine always on ph of 8 even tho its a little higher then normal but they seem to get use to this ph. A stablize ph is more important then a low ph that constantly changes after water change. Altho I never have any pair yet even they were size of 7" I'm guessing I just dont have a female in those 4 oh well too bad. If you really want to use ro unit. Try to test the ph with mixture of 50%ro water and then 50% tap water or 75%ro water then 25% tap water alot of my friend do this during water change or use to make water more acid so egg r easier to fertilize during breeding.

 

[kamel_007]

This is exactly what i don't like to hear, it gives Discus a bad name.

Discus are just as flexible as other fish. Over time they'll adjust to your water, as long as extremes are avoided.
Breeding would be hard if the water WAS outside of these parametes, but raising a few generations in your tap water would no doubt increasing the chances.

Discus don't 'need' anything. In fact, the only thing they 'need' is a temperature around 84'F at which their immune systems will strengthen.

No offense Kamel_007, honestly, just wanted to rant.

Man, this's exactly what you should going for..

If you want to keeping discus right.. you should to do it right...

 

[Fish_Mike]

Man, this's exactly what you should going for..

If you want to keeping discus right.. you should to do it right...

This was the attitude most Discus keepers had when they first entered the trade. This just isn't true anymore...

 

[John_Nicholson]

Fish_Mike is correct. Keep your water clean and warm. Don't worry about soft water unless you are breeding them. They will grow better in harder water anyway. I am a discus breeder and have raised around 3000 of them this year. Stable water is very important. If you try to adjust your water you will probably just end up killing the fish with Ph bounce.

-john

 

[simonbrown403]

Fish_Mike is correct. Keep your water clean and warm. Don't worry about soft water unless you are breeding them. They will grow better in harder water anyway. I am a discus breeder and have raised around 3000 of them this year. Stable water is very important. If you try to adjust your water you will probably just end up killing the fish with Ph bounce.

-john

I agree with john and mike, stability is the key, not just to discus but to fish keeping in general.

To reclaim R/O water you will need to mix it with tap water or a remineralizing compound like Kent "Kent R/O right" or "Seachem Equilibrium"

I found that mixing tap water and R/O to be hard to get exact but that was me, personally i prefer the the compound as it more reliable and easyer.

As R/O units remove 90%plus of minerals and remineralizing agents only replace base line minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium and potassium etc its a good idea to add trace minerals that "Seachem discus trace" contains,
Discus both young and old need for growth and to maintain good heath.