Water softener vs. discus

[wesleydnunder]

What are the water params before the softener? ph, kh, gh ? After the softener?

Mark

 

[Dkarc]

even if you arent planning on breeding you still need to be concerned w/ hardness, its pH that (as along as stable) can be adapted too...I've always heard/read that you want to keep the hardness <4dgh

Not true. I know many breeders who keep all of their discus (except breeding pairs) in rock hard water. Im talking 18GH+. Liquid rock. And their fry grow out great and their adults do perfect as well. The ONLY time you need to be concerned about water hardness and pH is when you are trying to get them to breed and their eggs to hatch...for that, I recommend a pH around 6.5 and a hardness of no greater than 60 u/S (2-3GH or so).

-Ryan

 

[Dkarc]

Ok, my real concern is of sodium which is what results after the softening of water through this thing. Do you people think that my discus would not grow properly or be affected by this type of water?

If anything, the excess salt will stress them...which can lead to disease problems in short order. Is there a bypass valve before the softener that you can tap into for the discus tank (when doing water changes)?? The salt wont harm them if its only short term...but in the long run, you can run into growth and health problems due to the high salt concentration (which is purely stress related). Discus can handle salt, but only when absolutely necessary. If there isnt a bypass valve before the water softener, see about putting one in. It shouldnt cost very much.

-Ryan

 

[magb321]

There IS an outlet that is not affected by the softener the only problem is that it is in the basement and the tank is on the third floor. That is the way I have been making my water changes but im getting tired, I hope that on this wednesday I will be able to install my RO system which is going to be connected to the regular water, i'm gonna make a mess of pipping but hey, it's worth it.

Thanks you guys for your comments.

Mario