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Home      Reply		Viewed: 370 -- Replies: 19
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Posted	Discus fish?
29-05-2007 20:35 by Lnrak	I am going to set up a tank for a couple of discus fish. I have had my tropicals now for a few years with no problems, and NEVER used a water test kit, as I have never had the need for one. I make regular changes and the tank is always clean and the fish are A1. What I want to know are the correct water parameters for discus, and how you adjust not quite so perfect water conditions?? I know good filtration is a must, but how do you alter your ph levels etc? I.e - if it's too high how do you bring it down and vice versa? Any tips are very much appreciated as I know that lots of you keep discus and know your stuff. PS - the parrot cichlids that I bought a few weeks ago are even brighter than they were when I bought them - SO THEY AREN'T DYED!!!!
29-05-2007 20:36 by Lnrak	But that's another thread......
29-05-2007 20:44 by Lnrak	Here they are....
29-05-2007 21:55 by netty d	Hi Lnrak, what is the PH of your tap water mines bang on for discus at 6.5.....I may be wrong, but as far as i am aware, the PH is only important if you plan to breed them. You can buy PH up and PH down from your lfs if you need to change it
29-05-2007 22:08 by tasha	r parrots peacefull fish as i would love to get 2 ?
29-05-2007 22:29 by Lnrak	My parrots are peaceful. Think they r building a nest of some sort as they dig the sand with their fins and scoop it up in their mouths and spit it out elsewhere. They have made quite a mound!!! Are terretorial at the moment, but the other fish know their place and keep away!! They only seem to go for the bigger fish too strangely enough??? They are fine in my community tank, and there's 15 other fish in their. No probs at all with mine. They are great fish to watch too, and always come to you for feeding. I love 'em!! If I had the room I would defo have some more. Netty d - thanks for that. Was wondering what to use, makes sense now!!! As I said I don't know the ph as I have NEVER had a test kit and no probs. I will be getting one very soon though - thanks for the info. That was the main problem I was thinking about though, and now I have an answer. Thanks again
29-05-2007 22:46 by Elmo	RO water is the best to use for discus with additives to add minerals back, you can also use rain water but be careful on how you collect it. using peat to soften the water works.The best way to keep discus is have a very mature tank, then your water will become stable and you wont harm any of your fish messing around trying to get it right later on,calcium carbonate can be used ( carefuly ) to bring it up.
29-05-2007 22:47 by Lnrak	cheers Elmo. Sounds like u know woy ur on about
29-05-2007 22:50 by Elmo	keep the temp up to at least 30 and try a bit higher now and again because it helps them get rid of any illness they may have when you first get them, always worm new fish, heres some of mine,
29-05-2007 22:51 by Elmo	2
29-05-2007 22:56 by Lnrak	They look like beautiful examples. Thanks for the advice. Is RO essential really, if the ph is adequate, tapsafe is used, filtration is good and regular water changes are made? Love the discus at the bottom looks fantastic!
29-05-2007 23:04 by Elmo	not everyone uses ro , so no its not essential but you will see better results for using it, i am lucky i can get mine free from my local aquarist.
29-05-2007 23:23 by big cats	good luck with the discus,i dont have any currently but have had a little success breeding them in the past(about 15 years ago).first thing you will need to know is the water conditions from where they come cos you will need to replicate it at least initially,you will have to monitor water quite closely clean water is more important than with most tropicals,but a stable system is utmost.you should supply a tank that is as deep as possible(discus are never found in water less than 80 cm deep)use a power filter but return the water to the tank via a spray bar over an overtank trickle filter use any food safe container and bio balls,this makes for slow flow and an extremely efficient biological filter and highly oxygenated water,use coal as a substrate to mimick their natural environment (pure coal not solid fuel blocks)ro water may be essential in some areas only you know what your local water is like,up here they will love my water ph6.5 very low carbonate hardness and general hardness.your tank looks good ,try to buy your fish small and at the same time(so you need a mature tank) ask elmo where he got his cos they are nice .THEY ARE EASY TO KEEP,THEY ARE JUST NOT EASY TO KEEP WELL AND ARE VERY UNFORGIVING IF YOU COCK IT UP
29-05-2007 23:39 by Lnrak	Thanks all - greatlt appreciated
30-05-2007 15:33 by Lnrak	I wanted a challenge that's part of the reason I'm going to buy some - and their striking colours and patterns of course. Trying to gather as much info as possible so hopefully won't get any major problems (or minor ones for that matter)!!
30-05-2007 15:50 by Elmo	they are not that difficult to keep , you can even get fish from harder waters now that have been raised in this which could make it easier
30-05-2007 16:31 by Lnrak	Didn't know that Elmo - that could be worth looking at. Have to test my water first and find out. thanks.
30-05-2007 21:14 by netty d	Lnrak, i've put two of my spotted/mosaic leopards on ebay today......cr*p pics, but stunning fish if your anywere near yorkshire
30-05-2007 23:01 by mark770	Aim to keep your ph between 6.5 and 7. The filtration is the key and peat is a great softener. A HMA filter is a much cheaper alternative to RO water as you do not waste any but it gets rid of most of the chemicals that the water companies add on our behalf. Attempt to quarantine any new fish before adding to your tank as there can obviously be a large expense if disease is introduced. Aim to get your fish from the same supplier as you will have less problems with introducing infection and you will know what water parameters you are aiming for. Aim to do at least 2x20% water changes per week and you should find your fish will be happy. A varied diet is also essential. Lastly do not be alarmed if your discus becomes sick as there are plenty of remedies out there. It is a common misconception that discus become ill easily but this only shows because a discus actually shows you that it is ill before it is too late, but with most trops, the fish will normally just keel over and die and you maybe none the wiser as to what the cause was. I hope that this is of some help
31-05-2007 10:54 by Lnrak	Thanks for that - I would love those discus, but am away next week and haven't sorted out my tank. I aim to transfer my parrot cichlids to a smaller tank on their own and get rid of the rest of the fish. My trigon 190 will be the home of the discus. Am on the lookout for a 2ft (ish) tank with filter, light, and heater, something nice and neat, and will hopefully get one soon. Then my juwel 190 can be converted to accomadate a couple or three discus. looked on ebay - they look nice, shame I ain't ready for 'em!! Thanks all the same.

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