Recommended PH, GH, KH for Discus

**Discus_Dude** · 11-15-2009, 01:07 PM

PH
Display – 6.5 – 7.5
Breeding – 5.5 – 6.5
Grow-Out – 6.8 – 7.5

Hardness:
Display – 10–15 GH, 5-8 KH
Breeding – 1-4 GH, 0-1 KH
Growing-Out – 8-15 GH, 5-8KH

I would avoid buffers/additives when keeping discus; unless, they exceed the ranges above. Discus love good clean consistent water quality, so be careful of even slight fluctuations when performing water changes.

Note: Some PH buffers increase phosphates in your water and promote algae growth.

Hope this helps!

**KingFisher** · 11-15-2009, 05:43 PM

My water has a Gh of 7 and a Kh of 6. I always assumed that it was too hard for Discus. Thanks for clearing that up.

**suedaunter** · 01-22-2012, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by Discus_Dude

PH
Display – 6.5 – 7.5
Breeding – 5.5 – 6.5
Grow-Out – 6.8 – 7.5

Hardness:
Display – 10–15 GH, 5-8 KH
Breeding – 1-4 GH, 0-1 KH
Growing-Out – 8-15 GH, 5-8KH

I would avoid buffers/additives when keeping discus; unless, they exceed the ranges above. Discus love good clean consistent water quality, so be careful of even slight fluctuations when performing water changes.

Note: Some PH buffers increase phosphates in your water and promote algae growth.

Hope this helps!

I can't understand why my water is reading ph 7.5, Kh 1, Gh 3, I have 7 bare-bottom tanks going into 1 sump, which has alfagrog, sponges and floss. I use a master testkit and ph probe which give the same results. The discus are happy and eating well and 1 pair laid eggs yesterday which are fertile. any ideas where the alkilinity could be coming from? I use RO and tap water which measures 6.6 in my storage bin.