mattwa Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 Hi all, The ph coming out of my tap is around 7.5 and I want to get it down to around 6.5 naturally for discus. I know theres all sorts of chemicals out there to do the job but would prefer to use a more natural approach. What other ways are there besides peat moss in the filter? (I would rather not yellow the water) This is for a 250l tank which would have around 6 discus in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 My tap water is nearly the same pH is yours - 7.6. My discus tank sits at 6. I have driftwood in it but noticed that as the tank matured the pH dropped and now remains stable despite large frequent water changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattwa Posted August 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 My tap water is nearly the same pH is yours - 7.6. My discus tank sits at 6. I have driftwood in it but noticed that as the tank matured the pH dropped and now remains stable despite large frequent water changes. Do you add any water conditioners when you change the water?? My tank has been going for about 6 months and has two BIG pieces of driftwood in it, PH doesn't seem to drop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 Are the discus happy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattwa Posted August 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 They aren't in there yet. Just doing some forward planning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 I think its best to just make do with the ph as it is. The fish will be fine , they will get used to it. at least it will stay the same when you do water changes. Too much risk when artificially trying to replicate natural perameters and get it wrong. Unstable and prone to swinging. JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 IMO the best approach would be to heat/dechlorinate/soften the water in a big barrel before doing a water change. I'd set the barrel up with an airstone, heater and a stocking full of peat, fill it up after doing a water change so its got X days until your next one to warm up and for the pH to drop, treat it with Prime to remove chlorine, and then either use buckets or a pump to fill the tank back up after a water change. If you don't want the colour you could run carbon in the filter in your tank. Another option would be to collect rain water, which should be softer. Or you could just say that its close enough, do smaller more frequent changes (~30%) and let it sort itself out. That will be the best way to keep it constant, which the fish might actually prefer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYNDYLOO Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 I would be leaving it alone My Discus Tank sits at around 6.6, Tap Water is 7, I do an 80% Water Change every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, they seem Happy to me, doesn't seem to bother them with the slight PH difference of the Tap Water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 yeah. leave it be, don't chase the pH unless its at a blisteringly terrible level. they will be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 I add aqua plus when I change the water, and flourish excel for the plants when I think its needed but thats it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Don’t adjust your pH levels unless you plan on doing a huge supply of water and being stuck doing it forever. It won’t make any difference anyway unless you are breeding them. Discus need consistency and cleanliness so if your tap is good then use that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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