ctrout
07-13-2019, 08:36 PM
I posted a bit about myself in the new member introduction thread, but I'll include some of that info here for background.
I tried my hand at keeping discus about 20 years ago with no success. I was raising German rams at the same time and had great success with breeding pairs. I was also keeping a successful small reef at the time. Due to career demands, I got out of the hobby for about 20 years, but I'm in a good spot now to get back into it so here we go.
I am planning a discus community tank and have a few first questions. The tank is 90 gallons with a 20L sump. The tank is not drilled and I have read a ton of info about the pros and cons of drilling vs not drilling, and I've made up my mind to run an overflow box. I was originally thinking of doing a refugium in the sump and live sword plants in the tank, but then I started seeing all kinds of strong opinions against live plants in a discus tank. I couldn't figure out why people were advising against them. Logic (and science) tells me that live plants will only improve the overall quality if the plants are kept healthy, so why would anyone advise against them?
My next question is about water chemistry. I just bought an API master freshwater kit and a KH/GH kit. My tap water tests at PH-8.4, KH-4, and GH-89.5. I hope I'm reading the chart correctly. I don't have a deionizer or RO machine yet so I can only speculate or wonder about how the water will change once I get that equipment. The aquarium place where I will be getting my fish from tested their PH right in front of me today and it came out at 6.4. They are in the next town over, so it's a different water supply. They said that they use a 50/50 mix of tap water and RO in that tank. Can I expect my PH to come down to around 6.4 by using a 50/50 mix as they do? Also, while I'm on the topic of RO, what is a good RO system that would meet the needs of my 100 gallon system?
I tried my hand at keeping discus about 20 years ago with no success. I was raising German rams at the same time and had great success with breeding pairs. I was also keeping a successful small reef at the time. Due to career demands, I got out of the hobby for about 20 years, but I'm in a good spot now to get back into it so here we go.
I am planning a discus community tank and have a few first questions. The tank is 90 gallons with a 20L sump. The tank is not drilled and I have read a ton of info about the pros and cons of drilling vs not drilling, and I've made up my mind to run an overflow box. I was originally thinking of doing a refugium in the sump and live sword plants in the tank, but then I started seeing all kinds of strong opinions against live plants in a discus tank. I couldn't figure out why people were advising against them. Logic (and science) tells me that live plants will only improve the overall quality if the plants are kept healthy, so why would anyone advise against them?
My next question is about water chemistry. I just bought an API master freshwater kit and a KH/GH kit. My tap water tests at PH-8.4, KH-4, and GH-89.5. I hope I'm reading the chart correctly. I don't have a deionizer or RO machine yet so I can only speculate or wonder about how the water will change once I get that equipment. The aquarium place where I will be getting my fish from tested their PH right in front of me today and it came out at 6.4. They are in the next town over, so it's a different water supply. They said that they use a 50/50 mix of tap water and RO in that tank. Can I expect my PH to come down to around 6.4 by using a 50/50 mix as they do? Also, while I'm on the topic of RO, what is a good RO system that would meet the needs of my 100 gallon system?