Page 1 of 2
best discus tank water testing
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:18 am
by Wind
What's the best way to test water for Discus? I've got a 75 gallon tank with 6 adults, sand substrate, and a Fluval FX4 filter. Been using API test strips but heard they're sketchy. Need something reliable, gonna do daily tests for a bit.
Re: best discus tank water testing
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 8:01 am
by Olive
API strips aren't precise enough for Discus. Get a liquid test kit like the Salifert or Red Sea Pro. Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and KH daily. Keep temp at 84°F, and do 30% water changes every other day with RO water mixed with a mineralizer.
Re: best discus tank water testing
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 9:06 am
by Coralite
Olive wrote: ↑Fri Aug 01, 2025 8:01 am
API strips aren't precise enough for Discus. Get a liquid test kit like the Salifert or Red Sea Pro. Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and KH daily. Keep temp at 84°F, and do 30% water changes every other day with RO water mixed with a mineralizer.
Yep, liquid kits are the way to go. I use Seachem Prime for conditioning and a TDS meter to check purity. My Discus are way happier since I switched.
Re: best discus tank water testing
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 10:56 am
by bigDiscus
If you're gonna test daily, cut it with the strips. Hanna Checkers are pricey but worth it for accuracy. I run a 125 gallon with 10 Discus, planted with CO2, and my pH swings were brutal till I got one.
Re: best discus tank water testing
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 11:31 am
by Seadog
Stick to liquid tests for now. I've got a 55 gallon with 4 juveniles, sponge filter, and driftwood. Tested with strips for months and got false zeros. Switched to API Master Kit and found nitrates at 40 ppm. Scary stuff.
Re: best discus tank water testing
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 12:43 pm
by keeper
Seadog wrote: ↑Fri Aug 01, 2025 11:31 am
Stick to liquid tests for now. I've got a 55 gallon with 4 juveniles, sponge filter, and driftwood. Tested with strips for months and got false zeros. Switched to API Master Kit and found nitrates at 40 ppm. Scary stuff.
Same here. My tap water's KH is super low, so I buffer with crushed coral in the filter. Liquid tests show the real numbers, strips just guess.
Re: best discus tank water testing
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 2:15 pm
by Wind
Thanks for the advice, everyone. Gonna order a Salifert kit and a TDS meter today. Appreciate the help!
Re: best discus tank water testing
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 3:10 pm
by Dubson
Good call on the Salifert. I chill with weekly tests now but started daily like you. My 90 gallon's got 8 Discus, bare bottom, and a UV sterilizer. pH stays at 6.8 with peat granules in the sump.
Re: best discus tank water testing
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 4:43 pm
by Kargo
Don't forget GH testing if you're using RO. My Discus bred once I got GH to 6 dH. Tank's 100 gallons, heavy plants, and a canister filter. Liquid tests saved me from a crash last year.
Re: best discus tank water testing
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2025 5:18 pm
by Silvan
I'm new to this, but my LFS said strips are fine. Got a 40 gallon with 3 young Discus, HOB filter, and no plants. Should I still switch to liquid tests?