ChicagoDiscus.com     Cafepress Store

View Poll Results: Which is the better option for lowering KH?

Voters
3. You may not vote on this poll
  • Sera Super Peat

    1 33.33%
  • Indian Almond Leaves(Cattapa)

    1 33.33%
  • Organic Roobios Tea

    0 0%
  • Fluval Peat

    1 33.33%
Multiple Choice Poll.
Page 1 of 7 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 94

Thread: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

  1. #1
    Registered Member DiscusDish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    213
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    Hi there,
    I have a problem that I need to fix. My KH out of tap is about 240ppm. Pretty high... And because of the stupid KH my pH sits at 7.8.
    I cannot currently invest in an RO unit and am looking for other ways to do it. Even if it is temporarily.
    Here are some products that I have been eyeing and their prices:

    Sera Super Peat $17
    Indian Almond Leaves (Cattapa) $7
    Davidson’s Organic South African Roobios Tea $16

    Which one is the better option? I would like to use these until I get my RO unit.
    Matt

  2. #2
    Registered Member + MVP danotaylor's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Aussie living in Cincy
    Posts
    3,219
    Real Name
    Daniel

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    I didn't vote becaise your poll presupposes you need to do something. 7.8 is totally fine, don't mess with it. Stability is the key. Many folks here successfully keep discus in the 8+ range

  3. #3
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    2,981

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    I totally agree with Daniel, my Discus are raise and spawn at a ph around 8.7.

    Cliff

  4. #4
    Registered Member DiscusDish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    213
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    Ok, mine just refuse to spawn. My marlboros don’t want to. I have another pair and they don’t want to either. They are Turks.
    Matt

  5. #5
    Registered Member + MVP danotaylor's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Aussie living in Cincy
    Posts
    3,219
    Real Name
    Daniel

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    Patience grasshopper. Maybe they're just not ready. Didn't you say in another post you had wigglers with a pair before?

  6. #6
    Registered Member DiscusDish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    213
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    Yes, indeed. With that same Turk pair, but now they show no breeding action, haven’t for 4-5 months... any tips? Danny, thank you for all your help. You are one of the most helpful people on this forum.
    Matt

  7. #7
    Registered Member + MVP danotaylor's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Aussie living in Cincy
    Posts
    3,219
    Real Name
    Daniel

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    I dunno about that Matt, but I'm glad I have been able to offer you some helpful guidance.
    The fact that your Turk pair had wigglers in your water is the best evidence that you don't need to change anything. If you want to try to manipulate a spawn try adjusting your temp a few degrees, or mixing up your water change %'s a little.

  8. #8

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    Is there anything you have changed since they spawned, I would try feeding them up good, bloodworms, live blackworms, fdbw, veggies and see if they don't spawn.

    Jeanne

  9. #9
    Administrator and MVP Dec.2015 Second Hand Pat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    31,726
    Real Name
    Pat

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    Hi Matt, patience grasshopper, these fish will reward you with time. Your ph is fine. If you want to have a little fun lightly tint the water with a little rooibos tea. Liz and I love the stuff.
    Pat
    Last edited by Second Hand Pat; 11-04-2019 at 11:10 AM. Reason: Spelling
    Your discus are talking to you....are you listening


  10. #10
    Registered Member DiscusDish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    213
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    Thanks Pat. Lol, I was confused for a second when it said glasshopper and was about to go search up what that was. I will order some roobios tea along with my lighting fixture.
    Matt

  11. #11
    Registered Member bluelagoon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Halifax,Canada
    Posts
    2,498
    Real Name
    Mervin

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    Roobios tea does not lower PH, but does stain the water well and is a great antioxidant. If you google it , it will say that it does not lower ph, but "may" increase the ph. But I don't think it increases it much. I couldn't tell if it increasesd when I used it. By the time it takes peat moss and leaves to lower ph, you probably going to change large volumes of water before it gets time to lower it. Moss and leaves do not lower ph quickly, it take time. Your better off trying to keep things stable.

  12. #12
    Moderator Team LizStreithorst's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Moselle, MS
    Posts
    13,066

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    The tea makes my Discus' egg shell soft enough to hatch out. Their is no logical explanation that we know that makes this happen but there must be one. What it does not do, is what you're looking for, Matt, which is to put the pair in the mood. Try cleaning them up with something for flukes (I use PP), levasol for worms, and metro for hex, whether or not they show symptoms. If that doesn't work for them you have no choice but to wait.
    Mama Bear

  13. #13
    Registered Member DiscusDish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    213
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    Should I use all of those meds at once? How do I use PP? I heard it can be dangerous..? What does Rooibos tea do? Tell me what I should buy as I am doing a shop on Amazon today and want to order some extra stuff for free shipping. Thanks
    Matt

  14. #14
    Administrator and MVP Dec.2015 Second Hand Pat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    31,726
    Real Name
    Pat

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    Quote Originally Posted by DiscusDish View Post
    Thanks Pat. Lol, I was confused for a second when it said glasshopper and was about to go search up what that was. I will order some roobios tea along with my lighting fixture.
    Hi Matt, the term grasshopper is a term from the TV series, Kung Fu. and the term grasshopper is used as a "person in training" lol.
    Pat
    Last edited by Second Hand Pat; 11-04-2019 at 11:22 AM. Reason: correction
    Your discus are talking to you....are you listening


  15. #15
    Registered Member DiscusDish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Posts
    213
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default Re: I hate my aquarium’s Alkalinity, help me love it.

    It seems that I can't order or get PP in my area. Are there some things I could do to put them in the "mood". I've heard about temp change, how do I do that? Also, I heard WC's can help, is that so? How much water? I feed once a day right now, should I start feeding more? I give them a 1x1" cube of bloodworms in the morning. I sort of think I should because my angelfish didn't spawn until I started feeding 3 times per day. Any other tips are appreciated. Thank you
    Matt

Page 1 of 7 123 ... LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Cafepress