PH Levels in The Discus Tank

Because it is imperative that discus fish havepurposes, Nick was not comfortable with the PH
optimal water conditions, much has been writtenlevel, which at that time was at approximately
about this subject, This is the plan put in place to7.5, high for optimal breeding conditions of 6.5-6.9.
insure proper PH water levels in our hatchery.What to do?
Allnut Enterprises' breeder, Nick Lockhart ofWe had read that hanging a mesh bag of peat
Noblesville, Indiana, has many ingenious ideas as tomoss would help to lower the PH, but were not
how to accomplish things in the hatchery. Wehappy with the idea of having debris from the
begin our experiment with two matched pairs:Peat in our tanks, which are kept scrupulously
two red melons, and two leopardskins. They areclean. We knew there had to be a better way to
lovely, friendly fish, and have been gettingaccomplish this goal.
acclimated to our tanks and the aquarist since theBecause Nick lives in town, and has city water, he
end of June.uses a Reverse Osmosis filtering system to
Initially, we begin to prepare for the new arrivalsinsure that the water is free of chemicals and
by setting up the tanks in this manner: water wassuitable for the aquarium. Knowing that Peat Moss
tested for PH and nitrite levels, and a properwill lower the PH in an aquarium system, and
ecosystem for active bacteria was begin byhaving a large bag left over from making culture
populating the tank with cichlids that Nick has beenfor Grindal and White Worms, he took a 5 gallon
raising prior to the purchase of the discus. Whenpail, and drilled a series of holes around the
we felt that the water/bacteria levels wereperimeter of the bottom of the pail, using a 3/32"
correct, we set up the meeting with the breeder,drill. He then lined the bottom of the pail with a
and made the trip to Bloomington, Indiana.think layer of regular aquarium filter floss, and
Upon arrival at home base with a travel time oftopped that off with a thick layer of Peat Moss,
about an hour and a half, we immediately begin towith the finished pail being about two-thirds full.
acclimate the pairs to their new home. We wereThe outlet hose from the RO system was then
advised by the breeder to let them acclimate toallowed to drain into this pail. Setting the pail over
the new tank water by "floating" the bagsthe top of the holding tank, the water slowly
containing the fish for approximately one hour todrained down through this medium into the holding
equalize the temperatures, and to add a cup oftank.
water to the bag from the tank to equalize PHInitial test of the recycled water showed a drop in
levels.PH to below the base of 7.0. We have been
We did not, however, follow this procedure. Weadding the water to the discus tanks slowly
took approximately six hours to acclimate bythrough water changes so as to not shock the
adding a cup of the tank water to the bag eachfish, and at our business meeting this weekend,
hour, and keeping a close eye on the discus andNick informed me that the PH levels in the discus
PH levels, because they were stressed from thetanks are now at approximately 6.6, which is the
trip. A Hanna PH digital meter was used foroptimal level for breeding discus.
testing, which gave us a very accurate reading.Cost of the project? If you already are using an
As large changes in PH in a short period canRO system, and have a holding tank, you will
shock the discus, we were careful in thisspend a twenty dollar bill getting the Peat Moss
approach. Our water at the time matched theand filter floss. Not bad, considering a breeding pair
water in PH levels from the breeder closely.of dicus can run you $425 dollars!
Because the two pair were bought for breeding