Seņor Discus
03-26-2018, 10:39 PM
So I went to the LFS and asked how I would go about conditioning Houston, Texas' hard tap water (pH 7.5-7.6 , KH 70 ppm (3.9) , GH 140 ppm)
What measures would you take to make this water appropriate for Discus?
My LFS advice was to just add Acid Buffer and obviously decholrinator. Must I mix my tap with RO water to reduce the KH and GH? I am aware that there is not chemical like that which modifies pH to modify the TDS as this requires mechanical processing to reduce the KH and GH. But would putting Dicus in this type of water after just adding Acid buffer to get the pH about a 6.8?
Also, my LFS guy told me that KH is the hardness that matters and not so much the GH. I vaguely get this rom forum posts I have read but would like to be sure. THANKS so MUCH in ADVANCE!
I also got Discus buffer but opted for the Acid buffer as this is a non-phosphate buffer. I have gotten from many posts that buffers are not good as they allow or great swings in pH with little forgiveness, so please verify if possible please!
Also, having already cycled my tank for about 3 days and "jump starting" it with Quick Start from API and adding 2 cap fulls of Ammonia to give the nitrifying bacteria something to feed off. I just did a test on the water and am getting reading of about 1.5 ppm, it doesn't seem to be exactly 2.0 ppm as it was about that yesterday, all I know is the indicator is a lighter green than it was when I tested it yesterday, could this be true? Has my colony begun to develop that fast?
I then tested for Nitrites and did not get a reading of 0 ppm thats for sure as the indicator was a little purple, so perhaps around .25 ppm? Then I tested the Nitrates and it seems to have a value and is not just solid yellow indicating 0 ppm. Has my bacteria colony already begun to break the ammonia down and establish itself?
Also should I add more ammonia? I heard about 4.0 ppm is ideal. Thanks for reading my story and helping me out! Much love from Houston, Tx!
What measures would you take to make this water appropriate for Discus?
My LFS advice was to just add Acid Buffer and obviously decholrinator. Must I mix my tap with RO water to reduce the KH and GH? I am aware that there is not chemical like that which modifies pH to modify the TDS as this requires mechanical processing to reduce the KH and GH. But would putting Dicus in this type of water after just adding Acid buffer to get the pH about a 6.8?
Also, my LFS guy told me that KH is the hardness that matters and not so much the GH. I vaguely get this rom forum posts I have read but would like to be sure. THANKS so MUCH in ADVANCE!
I also got Discus buffer but opted for the Acid buffer as this is a non-phosphate buffer. I have gotten from many posts that buffers are not good as they allow or great swings in pH with little forgiveness, so please verify if possible please!
Also, having already cycled my tank for about 3 days and "jump starting" it with Quick Start from API and adding 2 cap fulls of Ammonia to give the nitrifying bacteria something to feed off. I just did a test on the water and am getting reading of about 1.5 ppm, it doesn't seem to be exactly 2.0 ppm as it was about that yesterday, all I know is the indicator is a lighter green than it was when I tested it yesterday, could this be true? Has my colony begun to develop that fast?
I then tested for Nitrites and did not get a reading of 0 ppm thats for sure as the indicator was a little purple, so perhaps around .25 ppm? Then I tested the Nitrates and it seems to have a value and is not just solid yellow indicating 0 ppm. Has my bacteria colony already begun to break the ammonia down and establish itself?
Also should I add more ammonia? I heard about 4.0 ppm is ideal. Thanks for reading my story and helping me out! Much love from Houston, Tx!