discus tank water buffer tips

[Cloudy]

I've been struggling to keep my Discus tank stable lately. The pH keeps swinging between 6.5 and 7.2, and I'm not sure what buffer to use. I've got a 75-gallon tank with sand substrate, driftwood, and a few Amazon swords. Running a Fluval FX4, weekly 30% water changes with RO water, and temp at 84°F. Anyone got tips on a reliable buffer?

[3monkeys]

Sounds like your driftwood might be messing with the pH. I'd cut it out for a bit and see if things stabilize. For buffers, I've had good luck with Seachem Discus Buffer. It's designed for soft water and won't spike your TDS. What's your KH right now? If it's below 3, you're gonna need to bump it up slowly.

[Lena]

Yep, I use Seachem too. My tank's smaller, 40 gallons, but it's been chill since I started dosing it. I do 20% water changes twice a week, though. You might wanna up your changes if the pH is bouncing around like that.

[virus]

My dude, just toss some crushed coral in the filter. Cheap and works like a charm. I got a 55-gallon with a canister filter, and my pH stays at 6.8 all day. No fancy buffers needed.

[FairyFish]

Crushed coral can work, but it's kinda sketchy if you're not monitoring KH closely. I prefer a controlled approach with a buffer. My 60-gallon has been steady at 6.6 for months using Brightwell Aquatics Discus Buffer. Also, how old are your fish? Juveniles can be more sensitive to swings.

[Cloudy]

Sounds like your driftwood might be messing with the pH. I'd cut it out for a bit and see if things stabilize. For buffers, I've had good luck with Seachem Discus Buffer. It's designed for soft water and won't spike your TDS. What's your KH right now? If it's below 3, you're gonna need to bump it up slowly.

Good point, I'll try removing the driftwood. My KH is at 2, so I'll grab some Seachem Buffer and see how it goes. Thanks, everyone!

[3monkeys]

My dude, just toss some crushed coral in the filter. Cheap and works like a charm. I got a 55-gallon with a canister filter, and my pH stays at 6.8 all day. No fancy buffers needed.

Crushed coral can spike your KH too fast if you're not careful. Slow and steady wins the race with Discus. What's your KH after using coral? Mine jumped from 2 to 6 in a week once, and the fish were stressed.

[virus]

My dude, just toss some crushed coral in the filter. Cheap and works like a charm. I got a 55-gallon with a canister filter, and my pH stays at 6.8 all day. No fancy buffers needed.

Crushed coral can spike your KH too fast if you're not careful. Slow and steady wins the race with Discus. What's your KH after using coral? Mine jumped from 2 to 6 in a week once, and the fish were stressed.

Fair point. I only use a handful, and my KH stays around 4. But yeah, gotta watch it. My fish are adults, though, so they handle it better.

[FairyFish]

If you're gonna try crushed coral, start with a small amount and test daily. I've seen tanks crash from overdoing it. Also, what's your nitrate level? High nitrates can make pH swings worse.

[Lena]

My nitrates are usually under 10 ppm. I feed twice a day, frozen bloodworms and pellets. Maybe cut back on feeding if yours are high? Less waste, more stable water.