My Discus

[petertr]

PH 7.8 isn't good for discus, i suggest some Acid buffer.

I've recently added peat to lower the pH

Been carrying out regular water tests, and despite there being a bag of peat in the filter for over 10 days, the pH hasn't dropped at all.

The peat is in a bag of tights, slightly larger than a cricket ball in size.


Anyone got any ideas?

 

[angelmouse]

7.8 isn,t too bad as long as doesn,t go higher and the Discus seem happy, consistant ph is more important, add more bogwood and stick with the peat the change will be slight and gradual. With kh 12 this will keep the ph from going much lower anyhow. my kh was 14 and this kept my ph at 8 couldn,t lower it without using r/o water but if your not breeding them i wouldn,t worry.
they look happy and healthy as they are
regards Angel

 

[petertr]

7.8 isn,t too bad as long as doesn,t go higher and the Discus seem happy, consistant ph is more important, add more bogwood and stick with the peat the change will be slight and gradual. With kh 12 this will keep the ph from going much lower anyhow. my kh was 14 and this kept my ph at 8 couldn,t lower it without using r/o water but if your not breeding them i wouldn,t worry.
they look happy and healthy as they are
regards Angel

Thanks

 

[beechey]

i think you should change the back ground to blue or black then its perfect...
discus look very healthy ..

 

[mike os]

Don't get caught in the PH game, 7.8 is fine if the fish are happy... & from the pics they seem to be. Stable Ph is at least 500% more important than a specific Ph

 

[cheesy feet]

Yeh I agree, mine are kept in pH of 7.8-8, no rpoblems there.Nice discus

 

[ALW]

I agree add some more bogwood, this with the peat should lower the pH at little. A stable pH is more important than any specific pH!

 

[Behold]

I have always worked of a stable PH is more important. Most fish will acclimatise out of the PH range if done slowly and then kept stable. I have much issues as my tank is 8.2-4. I just spend a day acclimatising my fish rather than an hour or two.

 

[gzylo]

I have always worked of a stable PH is more important. Most fish will acclimatise out of the PH range if done slowly and then kept stable. I have much issues as my tank is 8.2-4. I just spend a day acclimatising my fish rather than an hour or two.

hi

how you get such precise measurement of ph?

thanks
gzylo

 

[Behold]

I have a highrange PH Test kit from API and i make it up on 10ml not 5ml amounts to aid accuracy.

 

[RadaR]

I agree add some more bogwood, this with the peat should lower the pH at little.

Bogwood and peat will have little affect on the pH because the water's carbonate hardness (KH) is acting as a buffer, which is stabilizing the pH and preventing any real change.
I echo what other's have said, stable pH all the way, rather than having a fiddle.
My only other comment is keeping Discus in a general hardness (GH) of 24? That's very hard water and hard water + Discus not a good match if I remember correctly, but would be grateful if any good Discus keepers could explain?

 

[petertr]

I agree add some more bogwood, this with the peat should lower the pH at little.

Bogwood and peat will have little affect on the pH because the water's carbonate hardness (KH) is acting as a buffer, which is stabilizing the pH and preventing any real change.
I echo what other's have said, stable pH all the way, rather than having a fiddle.
My only other comment is keeping Discus in a general hardness (GH) of 24? That's very hard water and hard water + Discus not a good match if I remember correctly, but would be grateful if any good Discus keepers could explain?

That's what I've found - no effect at all from peat.

I have a RO Unit on its way - going to mix RO water 50/50 with tap water to reduce the pH and GH.

 

[RadaR]

I agree add some more bogwood, this with the peat should lower the pH at little.

Bogwood and peat will have little affect on the pH because the water's carbonate hardness (KH) is acting as a buffer, which is stabilizing the pH and preventing any real change.
I echo what other's have said, stable pH all the way, rather than having a fiddle.
My only other comment is keeping Discus in a general hardness (GH) of 24? That's very hard water and hard water + Discus not a good match if I remember correctly, but would be grateful if any good Discus keepers could explain?

That's what I've found - no effect at all from peat.

I have a RO Unit on its way - going to mix RO water 50/50 with tap water to reduce the pH and GH.

Awesome mate. Good luck with it all.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

I have a highrange PH Test kit from API and i make it up on 10ml not 5ml amounts to aid accuracy.

doing it in 10ml will not aid accuracy as it says use 5mls!

 

[mike os]

erm... how accurate do you think you need to be?..... 0.5 is plenty close enough