Can Discus Fish Live In Hard Water
Wild Discus will require soft, slightly acidic water and generally the only way to achieve this is to use a reverse osmosis filter. European-bred Discus, however, are quite happy and will even breed in harder water – the reason being they have now been tank-bred over several generations and have adapted to it.
Do discus fish prefer hard or soft water?
Discus prefer warm, soft, acidic water. pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0, with hardness between 1° and 4° dKH (18 to 70 ppm). Temperature should be kept between 82° and 86° F, although wild Heckel discus prefer water near 90° F. Use an Aqueon Aquarium Heater to maintain proper water temperature.
Are fish OK in hard water?
Most aquarium fish will adapt to moderately hard to hard water provided they are acclimated properly. Ask your local aquarium shop about the hardness and pH in their tanks and compare it to the water in your aquarium. The greater the difference, the more gradually fish should be acclimated when you bring them home.
What fish can live in hard water?
Choosing Hard Water Fish Livebearers such as Guppies, Mollies, Platies, and Swordtails. Paradise Fish. African and some Central American Cichlids. Brackish fish such as Archers, Monos, and Scats.
How do you soften discus water?
We’ll get into the most efficient ways to soften aquarium water in this article. But keep in mind that water hardness, like all tank parameters, isn’t an absolute value that you should chase. Most fish species bred and raised in captivity have a higher tolerance to harder water than their wild-caught counterparts.
Do discus really need daily water changes?
Discus fish don’t require daily water changes unless they are juveniles, and you want to grow them to their maximum potential. However, they still need frequent water changes, and you should certainly do it if you want to raise a healthy, big, and beautiful fish.
What is the lifespan of a discus fish?
In home aquariums, discus live for an average of 10 years, but can live up to 15 years, and can grow up to 8 inches.
How hard should water be in aquarium?
Moderately hard water (6-12 °GH/100-200 ppm). This range of general hardness is preferred by most species of tropical fish. This includes most livebearers, like mollies and platies, and is the optimal range for betta fish. Hard water (12-18 °GH/200-300 ppm).
How do I lower the hardness in my pond water?
What should I do? Perform several small water changes with reverse osmosis or rainwater to bring the hardness down. Dose with Pond Guardian Tonic Salt to help support the fish’s immune system. If your fish are gasping at the surface, increase oxygen levels by adding an air pump.
What fish do well in soft water?
In some cases soft water fish need very low pH values to do well. The classic examples are things like Pikeheads, Ram Cichlids, and Chocolate Gouramis.
How can we remove the hardness of water?
A few methods to remove hardness from water are, Chemical Process of Boiling Hard Water. Adding Slaked Lime (Clark’s Process) Adding Washing Soda. Calgon Process.
What is the hardiest freshwater aquarium fish?
What is this? One of the more hardy freshwater aquarium fish available for beginners are Danios. Due to their hardiness, they are the perfect fish for people who don’t have much experience with setting up a tank. They can survive in a variety of different water conditions.
Can neon tetras live in hard water?
Hardness of between 2 and 10 degrees dH is recommended. Although soft water is undoubtedly favorable for neon tetras, these fish can manage in medium-hard water if it is of a high grade. For reproductive purposes, neon tetras require pH levels of no more than 6.5, also with extremely minimal hardness.
How do you fix hard water in a fish tank?
To soften hard water, you need to take the mineral out with a natural “water softener” such as Sera Super Peat. Another option is to use demineralized water for your fish tank. The same is true for trying to raise the pH in acidic water that is soft and doesn’t contain much mineral.
How do I lower the hardness in my aquarium?
How to lower aquarium GH – decrease hardness Reverse Osmosis/Deionized water (RO/DI) If you need to lower your GH every time you perform a water change, an RO/DI system is your best bet. Distilled water. Distilled water is essentially water that has been turned into steam then collected. Peat moss.
Is water softener safe for aquariums?
Domestic water softeners do not produce soft water usable in an aquarium. All they do is replace limescale-forming minerals with minerals that don’t form limescale. This is fine for washing machines and dishwashers, but bad for fish tanks.
Can discus live in cold water?
Symphysodon discus, the Heckel Discus, lives in water with an average temperature of 28.6°C/83.5°F. The highest I measured was 31.7°C/89°F in one biotope and the lowest was 25°C/77°F. S. discus is a blackwater species. The highest I measured was 31°C/87.8°F and the lowest in its biotope was 24.6°C/76.3°F.
What filter is best for discus fish?
Canister filters are a top choice for Discus aquariums because they can be filled with a range of media to create optimal water conditions. Also, to help prevent the loss of Discus young, a sponge pre-filter should be placed on the canister filter intake.
How old is a 2 inch discus?
A 2 ½ inch discus fish is only three months old when they are shipped to customers. The growth rate from 2 ½ inch to 4 inch keeping the fish in a small aquarium will only take four more months.
Is salt good for discus fish?
It is believed to help the slime coat of fish, acting as prophylactic protection against external protozoan parasites. Dosage can range from one tablespoon for every gallon, to one tablespoon per 10 gallons. Standard dose is between one tablespoon for 5 to 10 gallons.
Are discus hard to care for?
Discus fish are one of the most beautiful freshwater fish in the hobby, known for their spectacular colors and large, circular shape. However, they’re notorious for being extremely difficult to keep, with Internet forums often recommending strict practices like 100% water changes every day.