Reverse Osmosis

[australia]

i am using tap water atm with my discus, im thinking about getting a ro system, should i get one? and what what does it exacly do? i know it purifies water but how?

 

[rabbut]

Unless you are having issues with your discus ATM, I don't think you need one, unless you are still trying to breed? If that is the case, what are your stats for GH, KH and pH?

An RO filter forces tap water through pre-filters that prevent the memberane fouling, and then through the membrane itself, often followed by a DI cartridge. The Membrane is essentially a part that is so fine that only water itself can fit through, thus forcibly stripping 99.9% of all contaminants including chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals (amongst other things) from the water. It isn't quite pure water, but very close.

All the best
Rabbut

 

[australia]

Unless you are having issues with your discus ATM, I don't think you need one, unless you are still trying to breed? If that is the case, what are your stats for GH, KH and pH?

An RO filter forces tap water through pre-filters that prevent the memberane fouling, and then through the membrane itself, often followed by a DI cartridge. The Membrane is essentially a part that is so fine that only water itself can fit through, thus forcibly stripping 99.9% of all contaminants including chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals (amongst other things) from the water. It isn't quite pure water, but very close.

All the best
Rabbut

okay does it make the water soft for discus? i am not having no problems with my discus i just want them to breed

my water stats are:

PH: 6.0
GH: 110ppm
Temp: 30C

what does KG mean?

 

[rabbut]

I can't see where KG is mentioned, so I don't know what it means in it's context

RO will have a zero detactable hardness reading if the unit is working correctly When you mix it with tap water, the hardness will go down with pH in quick succession (usualy, but not always if the water it is being mixed with starts hard) with a pH of 6, adding RO will probibly crash the pH, so using RO for you will almost deffinately require the addition of mineral retopics

Do you have a KH (carbonate hardness) reading? I don't suppose you have the GH in dKH (german degrees) do you, as thats all I am able to work in here..... I don't know the conversion either...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[australia]

I can't see where KG is mentioned, so I don't know what it means in it's context

RO will have a zero detactable hardness reading if the unit is working correctly When you mix it with tap water, the hardness will go down with pH in quick succession (usualy, but not always if the water it is being mixed with starts hard) with a pH of 6, adding RO will probibly crash the pH, so using RO for you will almost deffinately require the addition of mineral retopics

Do you have a KH (carbonate hardness) reading? I don't suppose you have the GH in dKH (german degrees) do you, as thats all I am able to work in here..... I don't know the conversion either...

All the best
Rabbut

KH (carbonate hardness) is what i should have said.!!!!!!! no i only have the australian readings...
i have a aquasonic Hardness test kit. is there more then one kind of hardness test kit avalible?

 

[rabbut]

Yes, the is GH (general hardness) which is a measure of carbonate and magnesium salts in the water (What you have by the look of things) and KH (carbonate hardness) which is a measure of carbonate salts only in the water. KH holds eh pH steady, so we need to know where this is before making the shout over "is RO needed?" KH hardens the shells of the fish eggs, so makes fertilising them harder. Less KH= greater number of fertile eggs. (In theory at least) For this reason, when mixing RO for breeding, KH is of more concern than GH

All the best
Rabbut