How do I age water?

[radafmd]

Can anyone direct me to a thread that exists on how to properly age water and what aging does for the water?
Lance

[discusnutz]

Hi Lance

It is my understanding that aging the water allows the CO2 to be released from the water, and that gets you the true PH of your water, and that means ...stable PH for your fish, less chance of PH shock

eg: my well water- out of tap 6.4......24 hrs of airation and heated in holding barrel..7.6.....Ph in tanks 7.6

I use a 45G plastic barrel, a couple of bubblers, a heater, a pond pump to pump to tanks, and a potable water hose to fill barrel. Works like a charm for me and my fishies! They like their WC's. And thats thanks to this awesome forum!!

Now I have to mention that I am still learnin all this stuff myself! :o And I hope to be corrected if I have this info wrong!! :P HTH........Brenda

[Ardan]

Yes, Brenda gave good info.

Also make sure to have plenty of agitation to the water to get all the gasses and chlorine out.

If your ph is stable then you don't have to age the water, but do need to get chlorine out.

To check ph stability, take tap water and put it in a bucket, check ph, then add airstone, wait overnight and check ph again, if it didn't change then the ph is stable. :)


PS my ph is stable but I still aged the water to get the temp right and to get the water oxygenated and chlorine out (sometimes though there is more chlorine than other times, so be careful and keep an eye on it if you have city water)
hth

[Carol_Roberts]

Here is a bunch of water related threads fromthe index in the Beginners Section
Water Changes
http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=21;action=display;threadid=7856
http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=21;action=display;threadid=7595
Water Changes and Stress
http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=21;action=display;threadid=6359
How to do water changes
http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=21;action=display;threadid=16572
Water Changes with water pumps and hoses
http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=21;action=display;threadid=20553;s tart=0#lastPost
Ease of cleaning barebottom tanks
http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=21;action=display;threadid=16573

[radafmd]

Thank you Carol, Brenda and Ardan. That's exactly what I needed to know.
Lance

[CliffsDiscus]

Lance,
Age water, in the Bay Area? I don't know any Discus
breeders that are aging water in the Bay Area. What
city do you live?

Cliff

[radafmd]

Cliff,
I live in Vacaville. Do you have any tips? Water is hard 180ppm and pH in 8-9 range. Currently, I am heating water in tupperware container with airstone with 50/50 RO/Tap and adding pH down to get to 6.8 for atleast 24 hours. I would appreciate any suggestions that would make it easier. I am currently raising 12 juveniles for future breeding as a hobby.
Thanks,
Lance

[CliffsDiscus]

Hi Lance,
You can raise those Discus up in the water your already
have without too many changes. I do aquarium maintenance service in the Bay Area
that is why I was asking
which city you are living.
There are a few customers that I maintain their Discus tanks
with 400 to 600 ppm water comming out of the tap. Their
ph is around 8 out of the tap, Discus are raise and spawn with this water condition. If you city water has chlorine and chloramine you may want to add a remover.
If you need to polish the water you may add a GAC filter.
Since you live in Vacaville, there is also other Discus keepers in you area, check with the Sacramento Aquarium
Society, they have monthly meetings.

Cliff

[radafmd]

Cliff,
What is a GAC filter, what does it do and where can I get an affordable one? Vacaville DOES add chlorine to the water. Thank you for your help on this water question and the auto feeder.
Lance

[discusnutz]

Hey radafmd;

No need to mess around with your Ph if you are growing out juveniles, they will do just fine in your higher Ph, the only time it is important to have the lower Ph is if you are breeding Discus, the eggs need the lower Ph, and lower hardness in order to hatch

HTH..................Brenda

[CliffsDiscus]

Hi Lance,
A GAC filter is a granular actived carbon filter. I have 3 filter cartridge hooked up inline, the first cartridge is
a sediment filter that takes out sand, rust, iron and ect.
the second and third filter cartridge are granular actived
carbon cartridge that will remove chemicals. You can purchase these cartridges from Sears, homedepot, culligan
and Orchard. You can purchase the housing seperately
and attach them together, which is cheaper than buying
2 or 3 filters housing already attach together. the GAC filters usually last for 1000 to 1800 gallons.

Cliff

[radafmd]

Thank you Brenda and Cliff. This will make water changes that much easier.
Lance