Water Discus Aquarium Water Parameters

Almost all of your success is down to your Discus aquarium water parameters .  If you read up on the nitrogen cycle you will understand why you need to test.  You'll also understand that fish waste is converted to Ammonia then Nitrite then Nitrate by your filter bacteria.  Your Ammonia and Nitrite should be zero if your filters are correctly sized and working properly.  Nitrate will continue to build and at low levels is ok but as levels build this will cause issues.  The only way to reduce Nitrates is to replace water with water with less Nitrates or there are products available to absorb Nitrate, but these too soon become saturated.

Therefore regular water changes are essential.  Some use RO water, some use HMA filtered, deionized and some even use just tap water. The choice is yours and will depend on where your Discus are from.

TOP TIP - Consistency of water parameters can be more important than the parameters themselves.  An ever changing pH value is far worse than a consistent pH that is slightly wrong.

TOP TIP 2 - Visit you local water suppliers web site and search water quality.  You will get a report on your water supply by postcode.  These are averaged values and indicate whats coming out of your tap.  This will give you a good idea of what you need to do, or if you are lucky enough to have happy fish in your tap water.

Make your water changes regular and consistent and measure your parameter to ensure your water change schedule balances out your water parameters at an acceptable level.

Water Sources

Reverse Osmosis (RO) - Tap water is pushed through a membrane which blocks anything that shouldnt be in the water getting through.  You are left with pure water.  Quite a volume of waste water is produced and the water is stripped of everything so must either be mixed with tap water (to add some of the good bits back) or remineralized with any of a number of products available.  It cannot be used straight.

Learn more about RO...

TOP TIP - Never use straight RO water for fish (unless topping up marines).

Heavy Metal Axe (HMA) - This is again filtered tap water but heavy metal pollutants, chemicals, chlorine and dirt particles are removed.  Usually by a combination of sediment filters and carbon.  This is a good solution to clean up your tap water.  Since I have been using HMA water I have seen a number of improvements in the tank from less algae to improved fish colour and reduced fish issues.

The Tap - More and more Discus keepers are using tap water.  Most fish breeders sell fish that are raised in tap water and these fish can do well in tap water.  This has the added advantage of cost and convenience.  Water conditioners are available and should be added to neutralize the chlorine in your water supply.  Clearly Chlorine and filter bacteria are not a good mix.  Never use tap water for cleaning filters or for water changes.