My Discus And Water Hardness

[Zante]

It's really strange... I think...

I have done my best to match the water parameters of the breeder's tank, and I reached a VERY close mix with just over 3/4 of RO water and and just under 1/4 of tap water.

I have been forced to make a number of frequent water changes, and I didn't have enough RO water, so I had to resort to using half and half, and now that is pretty much the composition of my tank.

The strange thing is that my discus seem much happier with this mix!
Tap water TDS is 300ppm and last time I measured Kh it was around 17.

Any thoughts?

 

[Zante]

Sorry, tap water at home is 300 ppm, where the discus are it's at 400 ppm

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

Sorry, tap water at home is 300 ppm, where the discus are it's at 400 ppm

What's the tank water reading?(400ppm?) If you are mixing 50% R/O with 50% tap water it should be way lower. The conductivity will raise in the tank, unless it is completely bare, as the water will absorb solids from within the filter, etc. but it shouldn't raise more than about 30% IMO

 

[Zante]

400ppm is straight from the tap, then I mix RO water that is approximately 20ppm.
I'm going for a water change this afternoon, so I can take a reading from the tank.

I haven't measured the mix as the two waters are in separate water butts and I mix them by pouring them in the sump.
I suppose it would end up being about 200ppm when poured in.

As I said they seem to be happier with this mix than with the 120ppm the breeder kept them in. Maybe slightly harder water is more stable (more buffer) and that is what they like...

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

Is more likely that it could be the frequent water changes that have made them perk up, rather than the actual hardness of the water. Unless you haven't up'd the frequency?

 

[Zante]

Could be... I've upped to twice weekly.

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

Could be... I've upped to twice weekly.

That's more likely the reason