RO vs UV Sterializer

[C_of_Discus]

RO vs UV Sterilizer

Question is this Reverse Osmosis removes contaminants from tap water and UV Sterilizer reduces bacteria and pathogen levels from tanks water.

What is the best for Discus? If you where only buying one of these which one is recommended over the other?

I guess I am confused on what exactly each one does.

[Don Trinko]

They are two different things. The RO membrane takes almost all of the disolved solids out of your tap water. If your tap water is OK you don't need RO. Most who use RO add some tap water to it to add essential minerals back.
UV sterilizer kills some bacteria and parasites. In most cases it is not neccisary and of little value. You still need to do water changes uv or not. It is usefull in controling algae in the water but this can be controled in other ways. Don T.

[phidelt85]

Honestly, if you don't plan on breeding you can do without either one. If you have naturally soft water you can also do without the RO. As Don said a UV is a "preventative" way of reducing water-borne bacteria and pathogens in the water column. Neither is an essential tool or "must-have" unless you plan to breed. If your water is not naturally soft I would opt for a RO system for future breeding plans.

[C_of_Discus]

So a Ph of 7.4 to 8.0 is a safe straight out of the tap changes or is aging the only way with this high of ph?

[tonymaccs]

Hi CoD,
UV light is destructive to living organisms and therefore the use of UV sterilisers in aquatics is to destroy pathogens in the water column. It has no affect on inorganic substances in the water.
Reverse Osmosis is an ultrafine filter that removes both living organisms and inorganic content from water. In doing so there is a large amount of waste water produced so it is not really suitable for recirculating filtration. It's main use is for manipulating your source water to produce the desired quality.
Tony

[Ardan]

So a Ph of 7.4 to 8.0 is a safe straight out of the tap changes or is aging the only way with this high of ph

You need to first see if that ph is stable. That means that you measure the ph at the tap.
Then let a bucket of that tap water sit overnight and test ph again. If it changed more than .2 it needs to be aged to stabalize the ph.
If it does not change much, then no need to age it.

Those ph are fine for discus as long as it is stable
I don't use RO or uV for my discus for growing them. For breeding I will use RO. Never have used UV.
hth
Ardan

[Don Trinko]

Also find out if your tap water has clorine or cloramines added. Clorine can be removed by aging but you need to chemicaly remove cloramine.
Don T.

[C_of_Discus]

I do remove clorine or cloramines they do not treat the water as much in the winter as in the summer months. Was thinking that a Sterilizer would be good way of preventing any diseases in my discus.

I guess a cheap alternative in to age the water to be on the safe side in case of PH spikes.

[Mick B]

I do remove clorine or cloramines they do not treat the water as much in the winter as in the summer months. Was thinking that a Sterilizer would be good way of preventing any diseases in my discus.

I guess a cheap alternative in to age the water to be on the safe side in case of PH spikes.

Hi CoD,

The chlorine added to your tap water, it there to sterilize it, so why worry?

IMO, I do use a UV, linked to a cannister in my planted tank, as a method of off-setting the extra bug-potential of having plants etc

Cheers, Mick B

[Apistomaster]

You need to first see if that ph is stable. That means that you measure the ph at the tap.
Then let a bucket of that tap water sit overnight and test ph again. If it changed more than .2 it needs to be aged to stabalize the ph.
If it does not change much, then no need to age it.

Those ph are fine for discus as long as it is stable
I don't use RO or uV for my discus for growing them. For breeding I will use RO. Never have used UV.
hth
Ardan

0.2 difference in pH is negligible and not worth being concerned about. Most aquariums experience this much or more difference over every 24 hour period regardless of water changes and is well within Discus' coping abilities.

[C_of_Discus]

Well the reason I asked is I have some Adults that always had RO and BB tank and I have them in a tap water tank with Gravel and they don't seem to want to eat yet but it's only been acouple of days