How
to Process Discus Fish Water
Generally,
we use public water to change the tank water (remember that a 25%
water change is recommended… no more). The water from your
public company can be your friend or your enemy.
As
a discus aquarium owner, you really need to invest in a few tools to
assist you in keeping your fish alive and healthy. One of those is a
testing kit. They are available at any fish supply store or online.
Many
water suppliers add chlorine or chloramine as a matter of routine in
order to make the water drinkable for humans. Do you know if your
water supply has been treated with these chemicals? A simple color
test kit will determine the presence and concentration of either.
If
your water does contain chlorine or chloramine, the removal of these
water additives should be part of the water conditioning process
before you use it to replace the water in your tank.
How to Prepare Your Discus Fish Water
There
is more than one way to condition your tap water. (Conditioning is
the process of adjusting the chemistry of the water so that it is
suitable and meets the requirements of your discus fish.)
- You can remove chlorine from your public water by using an activated carbon pre-filter system.
- You can remove chlorine by “aging” the water or using a sprayer that mists the water in the air.
- There are commercial chlorine removers that can be purchased at your local fish store.
- Use reverse osmosis filters to remove the chlorine, but be warned that there are other chemicals and minerals that are necessary for your discus that will need to be replenished after running your water through a reverse osmosis filter.
Water
companies also use chloramine additive to disinfect public water for
consumption. If you think chlorine is bad for discus, chloramine is
much more destructive. If your pretest shows that there is chloramine
in the water supply, the good news is that there are chemicals to
neutralize the harmful effects. When buying the chemicals for
conditioning your water, be sure to purchase one that is specific to
chloramine. Aging and aeration will not do the trick on this one.
Changing
out your discus fish water should be done no less than once per week,
and using good water that is safe for your fish is really important.
In fact it is the one thing that will add life and happiness to your
discus fish above all others.