Discus water hardness explained

[paddlepop]

So I've been keeping Discus for about six months now, and I'm still kinda confused about water hardness. My tap water's GH is around 8, KH is 6, and pH sits at 7.2. I do 30% water changes twice a week with aged tap water. Are these numbers gonna cut it, or do I need to mess with RO water? Tank's a 75-gallon with sand substrate, sponge filters, and a bunch of driftwood. Fish seem chill but not growing as fast as I'd like.

[barks]

Your GH and KH are fine for Discus, honestly. They're adaptable as long as params stay stable. RO water's overkill unless you're breeding. Focus on temp (86°F), clean water, and quality food. What's your feeding routine? Mine get frozen bloodworms, beef heart mix, and pellets twice a day. Growth issues might be diet-related, not hardness.

[Astrid]

Your GH and KH are fine for Discus, honestly. They're adaptable as long as params stay stable. RO water's overkill unless you're breeding. Focus on temp (86°F), clean water, and quality food. What's your feeding routine? Mine get frozen bloodworms, beef heart mix, and pellets twice a day. Growth issues might be diet-related, not hardness.

Agreed. Stability trumps chasing "perfect" numbers. I've kept Discus in harder water (GH 10) for years with no issues. Key is consistent water changes and avoiding sudden shifts. What's your nitrate level? High nitrates can stunt growth more than hardness.

[hanksid]

My tap's similar to yours, paddlepop. I just add a bit of peat to my filter to soften it slightly. Fish are thriving, no RO needed. Tank's planted with Amazon swords and vals, which seem to help buffer things. How often do you test your water? I check weekly with the API kit.

[kadyash]

RO water's a scam unless you're trying to breed show-quality fish. Your setup sounds solid, mate. Maybe bump up feeding? My crew gets six small meals a day. Also, what's your stock like? Overcrowding can mess with growth rates. I keep six in a 90-gallon with cardinal tetras and rams.

[seaquake]

I dunno, man. My LFS swears by RO for Discus, but my wallet says nope. I'm using tap with Seachem Equilibrium to tweak minerals. Tank's got a Fluval canister, temp at 84°F, and the fish are coloring up nicely. Maybe your issue's more about genetics than water?

[3monkeys]

RO water's a scam unless you're trying to breed show-quality fish. Your setup sounds solid, mate. Maybe bump up feeding? My crew gets six small meals a day. Also, what's your stock like? Overcrowding can mess with growth rates. I keep six in a 90-gallon with cardinal tetras and rams.

Exactly. Wild-caught Discus might need softer water, but domestics are bred to tolerate harder conditions. Focus on cleanliness and diet. What's your water change schedule like? I do 50% weekly with a Python, and my group's growing like weeds.

[paddlepop]

Thanks for the input, everyone. Sounds like I'm overthinking the hardness thing. Gonna up the feeding to three times a day and stick with my current water routine. Nitrates are under 10ppm, so that's not the issue. Appreciate the advice!