Pat,
If I remember correctly, it's this that I use.
http://brightwellaquatics.com/products/blackwatert.php
This may also be contributing to the low pH changes as well.
Pat,
They do blow on the peat looking for pellets and worms. I have some live black worms living in the sand/peat. The 4th discus in the tank (largest) is actually a male Heckel crossed that gets bullied by one of the wild all the time. He is usually pushed to the left side of the tank by this wild. Earlier this summer, I had some plan to play with these Heckel with some cobalt flora but that didn't work out (I found out I only have male cobalt). I still think these 3 heckle are all male.
I do add RO right to tank but not on every water change. There is another additives that I use (forgot the brand off the top my head) that is in liquid form. The EC was around 80 before I messed up my adjustment by using the wrong calibration fluid.
Pat,
If I remember correctly, it's this that I use.
http://brightwellaquatics.com/products/blackwatert.php
This may also be contributing to the low pH changes as well.
Nice wilds, DiscusOnly. How big is their tank, what do you feed them and what is theri wc regime?
So when I started this thread the ph in the Cuipeua tank was 7.18. It is now 6.57.
Pat
Your discus are talking to you....are you listening
Pat,
Do you have decaying plant matter in the tank that might be contributing to the lowering pH, or do you think it is just the switch from tap mix to RO Right + discus essentials. If you are now using water prepared at 50 TDS for the Cuipeua tank, what TDS did you target with tap mix prior to this for that tank? I think it may have been 70ppm from another thread, but I'm not sure.
Hi Dan, just two large pieces of driftwood. The exclusion of tap is definitely responsible for the ph dropping. Remember I observed this in my altum tank first and that tank only has a bit of sand, a sponge filter and a AC 110. I am targeting a TDS of 50 in the WC water. The TDS in the tank is currently 76.
Pat
Your discus are talking to you....are you listening
pat do you have a current vid of your previous batch of altums? wondering how those are turning out. and to me it looks like your previous batch of altums had longer fins and more red it seems.
nikond70s, the best way to compare the two batchs is with vids showing both batches at the same age. On the first batch I had company for the month of December and that stressed the first batch so badly they hide for three months. That really put the fish in a state of decline and the few I have left are culls.
Pat
Your discus are talking to you....are you listening
Any updates on this Pat? How far did this method successfully lower ph?
-Zach
Power form Zach.
Your discus are talking to you....are you listening
Not sure Zach, I suggest you play with different ratios of RO and tap to determine a substrainable kh while maintaining your desired ph. A slow drift of the ph is ok which you will need to offset with water changes.
Pat
Your discus are talking to you....are you listening