hon
08-26-2013, 07:50 AM
I have been keeping artificial discus using a simple sponge filter and water dripping/overflow system with daily 100% water displacement. The untreated water from the tap has pH about 8.0 and is very soft (close to 0 KH). The tank water has been stabilized at around pH 7-7.2 ( I think it is due to biofiltration action). The discus are doing fine and spawning which is not a surprise as these fish have been bred and raised in the same water for generations.
I am thinking of keeping some wild Heckels and some wild royal blues. From what I can understand, the heckels do best in pH around 5.0. I am thinking of a way to reduce and maintain the pH at 5.0 for these wild Heckels. My job does not allow a regular daily manual water change except by the water dripping/overflow system. Here are several options that I have in mind:
Option 1: Just keep the wild discus same as my artificial discus which is the easiest way for me. But this also means the Heckels will not be in the best condition.
Option 2: Install a canister filter (for its large biofiltration capacity) and reduce water change to once a week (which I can easily manage). Using a storage tank, I will store some aged water and condition the water using peat to lower to pH to around 5.0. I will also keep a heater to make sure the new water has some temperature and pH as the tank water. I will do a weekly 50% WC (I fear that too much WC in a time will stress the fish).
Option 3: Use a dripping/overflow system but with reduced dripping rate. (may be 30% total tank volume a day?) Use sponge filter in tank to provide bio filtration and at the same time use a canister filter with only peat in it to lower the pH. This is a trial and error method as the peat filtration is hard to control to obtain a fixed pH.
What would you do? I would love to hear if someone has an automatic WC and pH control system in action.
Thank you.
I am thinking of keeping some wild Heckels and some wild royal blues. From what I can understand, the heckels do best in pH around 5.0. I am thinking of a way to reduce and maintain the pH at 5.0 for these wild Heckels. My job does not allow a regular daily manual water change except by the water dripping/overflow system. Here are several options that I have in mind:
Option 1: Just keep the wild discus same as my artificial discus which is the easiest way for me. But this also means the Heckels will not be in the best condition.
Option 2: Install a canister filter (for its large biofiltration capacity) and reduce water change to once a week (which I can easily manage). Using a storage tank, I will store some aged water and condition the water using peat to lower to pH to around 5.0. I will also keep a heater to make sure the new water has some temperature and pH as the tank water. I will do a weekly 50% WC (I fear that too much WC in a time will stress the fish).
Option 3: Use a dripping/overflow system but with reduced dripping rate. (may be 30% total tank volume a day?) Use sponge filter in tank to provide bio filtration and at the same time use a canister filter with only peat in it to lower the pH. This is a trial and error method as the peat filtration is hard to control to obtain a fixed pH.
What would you do? I would love to hear if someone has an automatic WC and pH control system in action.
Thank you.