How much discus buffer for 28 gal with hard water?

[Bgolfer88]

I have fairly hard water and would like to know max safe dose of discus buffer. Thx

[GeorgeG]

There's no need for you to waste you money on that stuff, I grow out all my discus in hard water. TDS is 850 and they do just fine. Soft water is for only spawning your discus.

[SubRosa]

None. Discus shouldn't be in a 28, with the possible exception of a pair maintained for breeding.

[BettaFishMommy]

None. Discus shouldn't be in a 28, with the possible exception of a pair maintained for breeding.

very much agree with this except the breeding part. a 28 gal is still too small for a breeding pair.

[FallenAngel]

He was actually asking how much Discus BUFFER to put into the 28g, not how many discus.

But I still do disapprove of confining discus to a 28g, even a breeding pair :)

[SubRosa]

You may disapprove, but 29 gal are a very popular size for professional Discus breeders....

[FallenAngel]

But that whole 1 gallon makes a huge difference! Okay then, I'm worng :raspberry:

[guppy226]

I breed my discus in 29g's... its plenty of room for them really, i also grow mine out in semi hard water.

[ianab]

The main problem - if he has hard water, then adding more buffers wont change that. Sure you can dump more crap into the water, and force the pH down, but the water is still going to be hard, and the Total Dissolved Solids is actually increased.

To make the water better for Discus, you need to take something OUT of the water, like most of the dissolved minerals. Then you can add a little bit of buffering minerals to the pure (and very soft water), just to give it some stability.

R/O filtered water is what is needed, then add a little "Discus buffer" or "R/O Right" to that.

Not getting into the tank size, and tank bred strains of discus can live OK with water that's a bit harder than ideal. But to thrive and breed they need soft and very clean water. Easiest way to keep water clean is a bigger tank and lots of water changes.

Ian

[Cerianthus]

The main problem - if he has hard water, then adding more buffers wont change that. Sure you can dump more crap into the water, and force the pH down, but the water is still going to be hard, and the Total Dissolved Solids is actually increased.

To make the water better for Discus, you need to take something OUT of the water, like most of the dissolved minerals. Then you can add a little bit of buffering minerals to the pure (and very soft water), just to give it some stability.

R/O filtered water is what is needed, then add a little "Discus buffer" or "R/O Right" to that.

Not getting into the tank size, and tank bred strains of discus can live OK with water that's a bit harder than ideal. But to thrive and breed they need soft and very clean water. Easiest way to keep water clean is a bigger tank and lots of water changes.

Ian
A-men! ;)

[Bgolfer88]

I agree it is a small tank for discus! I'm getting my 55 from home come xmas, i had a friend who all of the sudden got out of the hobby and needed a home for the fish =)

Back to the discus buffer! I'm asking bc I have a sick one who was always the dominant until now. The other two were pretty stunted as juvies and so are small but they are still doing fine. I tested my water, the readings were good and can be seen in one of my previous threads but the water was hard.
The tap water I use is usually soft but I think they may have added something to it for the time of year or something.
I got discus buffer bc it says on the bottle it also makes water soft. The friend I got it from swears by it but I didn't buy it at the time because I too usually stay away from chemicals like that as I find they usually aren't necessary/effective.

Any ideas??

[excuzzzeme]

If your tap water is normally soft it should still be that way. Deliberately increasing hardness is not a common action by a water company but it may be picking up something from within the plumbing and water mains.

Rather than guess, or think, testing your water is best before taking any action. It's the only way you're going to know for sure where your water lies in hardness value. You will then be able to add the correct amount of buffering. If the tank is planted, that is a big plus even though it's not a cure and in some system has no effect whatever.

[alan j t]

just age your water and add some amquel. i use to use this stuff all the time, but you dont have too.