What to do...what to do...

[GoodMike]

as you know, in just over a week im getting the starter package from jeff. the tank they will be in the ph is 6.8, which is lower than Jeffs water. Should i bring the ph up in the tank, because im treating it to be lower, cause thats what i have my other discus in, and i thought i should keep the parameters the same between the two tanks, cause later on im gonna move some fish around. do the younger discus do better in lower or higher ph? when these discus are older, im gonna be using they tank i raised them in for breeding i hope....so what ph should i keep it at????????

[M0oN]

Most people would agree that you're better off keeping them in what your tap water's parameters are, assuming the pH isn't sky high...using chemicals to lower and buffer pH can turn into a giant mess if you're not careful.

If you do go that route then keep the discus in that water, whatever you plan on having them in in the long run is what you should adapt them to now.

[Rick_May]

Don't do anything, the fish with be gratefull just to get out of the bags. Trust me, if you try matching the water in the bags it would be NASTY!

[brewmaster15]

Hi Mike,
whats your tap waters parameters..pH, hardness etc... and how are you lowering it

I'm firm believer that the less you mess with your pH (unless you are breeding them)...The better off your fish will be.

as for the adapting..I wouldn't worry too much about it.. Discus are pretty tough critters. :)
-al

[Carol_Roberts]

It's easier for water changes if the bulk of your disucs are kept in aged tap water. I only use an RO mix for breeders. If your aged tap is 7.0 to 7.5 I'd just start adding aged tap to your tanks to bring them up.

I know Jeff has hard water, but does he ship in high pH water?

[GoodMike]

My tap water is close to 8 in ph...the hardness is..well takes 3 drops to get the test green. I have been using Muratic acid for quite a while to lower ph with my other discus...i think it works great...DONT GET ANY ON YOU...i had an accident last night while using it..OUCH! anyways, i dont kwno what to do...adjust them to lower ph now..or later. My water parameters do not change when i age the water at all.

[M0oN]

Mike, I live out by Jeff and it sounds like your water parameters are pretty close to ours, with the exception of gH. (My gH registers in at 21). pH is around 7.8 I believe.

My discus do wonderfully in tap water, as do Jeff's.

You can do whatever you like, but the easiest answer would be to just use your tap water. If there's ever a problem that needs a quick solution you won't have to go about buffering etc. etc.

Be sure that your pH doesn't change with aging...set out a cup of water overnight and test the pH after about 24 hours, see if it's different from what it was straight from the tap.

If it is then you'll need to fill up a trash can or somthing with a lid on it and aerate the water for a while, this will also help you save money on dechlorinator as it eliminates chlorine. If you're not sure if you have chloramine in your waters then call up the number on your water bill and ask them about it.

Hope that helps,
Jason

[Carol_Roberts]

Your water is pretty soft if it only takes 3 drops to turn green. Be careful with the acid - Watch that you don't end up with a pH crash.

[paulmat]

I agree with Carol and the others,just let them get use to your water.

Paul

[GoodMike]

ok....so now i will slowly bring the ph in that tank up. What about my other discus that are breeding...should i leave them in lower ph???? and if i do get pairs out of my new discus when they mature, i will be using the tank they are in for breeding, should i lower ph then? or is 7.8 fine for breeding??? is there any problem with higher ph that i should watch for?? Thanks again

[Carol_Roberts]

Your water is soft enough for domestics to breed in. Mine breed in 7.6

[GoodMike]

should i just leave my tank that has 2 breeding discus alone at 6.8? or should i slowly bring it up too? ill start bringing my other tanks ph up.

[Carol_Roberts]

It's the hardness that stops the eggs from hatching rather than the pH. If you are getting fry now you will most likely get fry in aged tap water.

Just stop adding acid to your change water. Circulate the water until the pH stabilizes and do regular water changes. In no time at all your discus will be swimming in the higher pH aged tap water.

[GoodMike]

THANKS A BUNCH CAROL....now i dont have to burn myself with acid again ;)

[GoodMike]

i have one more question, do i need to age my tap water if the ph stays the same from when it comes out of the tap and after you age it. My water is about 7.8 out of the tap and the same 24 hours later.

[Carol_Roberts]

How about chlorine or chloramines? Do you have one of those and how do you get rid of it?

[GoodMike]

i know i have chlorine, and i use stress coat to get rid of it

[GoodMike]

am i doing things wrong??? or will it be okay since parameters dont change???

[Carol_Roberts]

I always think it's good to store water, add dechlor and circulate it a bit to add oxygen before adding to tank. But I don't have soft water, so you should see what others like April and Mat advise