Thinking about getting a RODI water unit for my 90 to be discus and 125 planted. My water comes out of the tap at 7.8ish and 320PPM. Should I use the rodi for them? I want to eventual breed them but this question is only for keeping. I ask because I was told that none wild caught can handle the high ph and TDS.
to RODI or not to RODI
- Thread starter Nate Dogg
- Start date
If you are going into wild discus or wanting to breed down the line then RO/DI is a consideration for your tap water. Wilds will acclimate to higher ph and TDS, but to really bring out their color and attempt breeding the TDS should be below 100ppm, with 60-80ppm being ideal. The one thing you want to lookout when producing water with no hardness is ph crash, most use a mineral additive like RO right or Discus Essentials to reconstitute the product water. Other than that just control your ph with routine water changes, the soft water will allow the water to settle in ph between 5.5-6.5 without you having to add any acid buffers.
Good info Mark, thanks for posting. It's good to see someone with your experiance posting in this section.
Domestics might benift slightly from a lower ph but it's not essential for them. If you're looking into keeping domestic strains the cost of RODI is not IMO worth the investment or necessary. I would use your tap water and acclamate them to that just as you would with any other cichlid. As Mark stated wilds will live in your water too water but may not thrive the same as domestics would. Some driftwood in the display tank will help lower the ph and soften the water a little naturally, a small filter bag filled with peat moss in a small HOB filter will serve the same purpose. I mention these things as options but again not necessary for you to keep domesticly bred discus. It is much more important to maintane steady and constant water peramiters then trying to alter your water chemistry. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
Domestics might benift slightly from a lower ph but it's not essential for them. If you're looking into keeping domestic strains the cost of RODI is not IMO worth the investment or necessary. I would use your tap water and acclamate them to that just as you would with any other cichlid. As Mark stated wilds will live in your water too water but may not thrive the same as domestics would. Some driftwood in the display tank will help lower the ph and soften the water a little naturally, a small filter bag filled with peat moss in a small HOB filter will serve the same purpose. I mention these things as options but again not necessary for you to keep domesticly bred discus. It is much more important to maintane steady and constant water peramiters then trying to alter your water chemistry. Good luck and let us know how you make out.