PH question in regards to Discus + Angelfish

[Vampiero]

I am fishlessly cycling a 60g tank with the intention of adding 12 Cardinal Tetras, 2 mated Angelfish, 2 mated Discus. I have 2 Aquaclear 70 Power filters hanging and am planning weekly 25% water changes (for Discus).
The PH in the tank is 6.5 (thx to buffers), and the PH in the tap is 8.5. I will be doing the water changes with a Python Siphon that will pour tap water back into the tank.

Will it be to big of a shock for the fish/plants if they endure 25% tap water quality for a few minutes before I pour in conditioner and buffer to bring it back to normal conditions?

[snoopy65]

As for the ph buffers being added to the tank after the water change, I can not answer because I have never played with my ph. I do know that one of the biggest stresses on fish is large ph swings partially because of the way it affects the toxicity of ammonia. As for the water conditioner, if you are on municipal water where chlorine and such is added to the water, the conditioner needs to be added to the tank prior to the new water being added. It also needs to be dosed for the complete 60 gallons, not just the amount of water being changed.

I realize you didn't ask about this but, what footprint is your 60? It may not be large enough to contain both a breeding pair of angels and a breeding pair of discus. When either pair spawns they will become much more aggressive than usual and quite possibly kill the other inhabitants in the tank. I personally would not want to take the chance of losing a breeding discus.

[fishorama]

I agree with snoopy, I see trouble ahead. People that have to alter their water, especially as much as you plan, usually use a large water storage container & adjust params there, not in the tank. You could use the python to clean & a pump to fill from storage.

It seems like you'd need to divide the tank to keep 2 pairs like that. Not the pretty tank you're hoping for.

[Vampiero]

the bottom of my tank is 48"x16" by 18" height.

And in another post i saw someone say: "The pH swings do not bother fish, because the TDS (total dissolved solids) and/or gh/kh does not swing rapidly." Do u guys agree?

[jpappy789]

Yes, to a point. Anywhere between 6 and 9 is generally fine. Osmoregulation has everything to do with TDS and nothing to do with pH.

[snoopy65]

The thing with discus is whether you are measuring temp, ph, kh, gh, tds or anything else: They require steady. They do not do well with any swings in their parameters, especially juvies.

[fishorama]

Well, hardness is a part of TDS & usually higher pH = higher GH & tds. Not everyone tests for tds but you can get a meter for ~$20 on ebay. Test kits come with pH tests & is "old school" to some. A change of say 50ppm is probably going to stress fish, more so with sensitive discus.

Either species can live in most tap water except for wild caught fish. Discus breeders usuaully drop the tds below 100ppm or less using RO (reverse osmosis) from what I've read. Angels don't need that.

I think you should focus on just 1 species & read more about discus requirements. I'm a newb to them but here's a good site http://forum.simplydiscus.com/index.php

[jpappy789]

Well, hardness is a part of TDS & usually higher pH = higher GH & tds. Not everyone tests for tds but you can get a meter for ~$20 on ebay. Test kits come with pH tests & is "old school" to some. A change of say 50ppm is probably going to stress fish, more so with sensitive discus.

Either species can live in most tap water except for wild caught fish. Discus breeders usuaully drop the tds below 100ppm or less using RO (reverse osmosis) from what I've read. Angels don't need that.

I think you should focus on just 1 species & read more about discus requirements. I'm a newb to them but here's a good site http://forum.simplydiscus.com/index.php
True. But then the problem is people are told to focus on a "perfect pH" for their fish or they need specific buffers, etc. when thats generally not the case.