R/O system

[shockshockshad]

Do discus really NEED soft water? My tap water is 7.4 pH. Fish can adapt and need a stable pH, but does that apply to discus too? And also, how many can I fit in a 75 gallon? 6 maybe? And what fish can go with them? What about cardinals? And corydoras? Maybe bristlenose plecos? I am just trying to get as many stocking lists as I can for my 75 gallon and figure out which I like best.

[sailor]

Tank raised Discus require a ph between 5 and 6.5. If they are wild Discus they could require a ph as low as 4 depending where they came from. You are right about the stable ph, but with the amount of water changes discus require unless your ph is in the correct range out of the tap it would be too stressfull on the fish and yourself continously adjusting it to get the ph the same all the time.

[shockshockshad]

So are you saying it is all right to have my tap water for discus? I don't have to get discus. I was just wondering if I can have them without the whole r/o setup.

[sailor]

I would not get them with your tap water unless you got a RO system.

[shockshockshad]

Okay. Thanks anyway. I will just stick with my Central American setup.

[Fishguy2727]

My tap is hard and alkaline and mine are laying eggs. You do not need soft or RO water. They will breed in water as high as 7.6. All the mentioned tankmates are perfect matches for discus. Six or seven is a great number of discus for a 75.

[jhill54]

My tap is hard and alkaline and mine are laying eggs. You do not need soft or RO water. They will breed in water as high as 7.6. All the mentioned tankmates are perfect matches for discus. Six or seven is a great number of discus for a 75.

I agree,
My water out of the tap is 7.2 and will stabilize around 7.4 after 24 hrs. I have not had a problem raising them yet. You may want softer water if you are going to breed them though but just raising them they will do fine in your water.

A Friend in diacus
John

[shockshockshad]

Yay! Thanks fishguy!
EDIT: They don't need live plants right? I was just planning on putting driftwood and a few plastic plants. But I like my central american setup too! Ooooh it's so hard to choose!

[shockshockshad]

Just a bump because I added another question in the last post.

[Fishguy2727]

They do very well with plants but do not need them.

[shockshockshad]

Thanks for the help.

[shockshockshad]

2 questions:

1)I have decided that I am only getting 6 discus. If I am supposed to add discus last, and I am only getting discus, what do I do?

2)I have also decided to get an RO system. How do I add the water mixed with tap water into the aquarium? Will it stress the fish if when I do water changes I add all of the ro water and then the rest tap? Or should I do some ro, then some tap, then some ro, then some tap?

EDIT: I forgot to say I use a python.

[shockshockshad]

Just a little bump.

[shockshockshad]

i guess this isn't a very popular thread?

[Fishguy2727]

Fishless cycle and you can add the discus all at once.

Most people who use RO have a reserve tank, usually a new, clean trash can. You can mix the water in there and then pump it to the tank.

[sailor]

Most people who use RO have a reserve tank, usually a new, clean trash can. You can mix the water in there and then pump it to the tank.


That's what I do for my 55 gal ram tank. Store it in those 5 gallon water bottles.

[shockshockshad]

That's easy enough for the 2nd question, but I am quarentining the discus. I can't fit 6 4" discus in a 10 gallon.

[Fishguy2727]

If you are getting them all at the same time and they would all be in the same quarantine tank, just put them all directly in the main tank.

[shockshockshad]

I get it. Thanks.