Tell me about Discus!

most fish can adapt to most pHs as long as it is stable, but it wouldnt hurt to add some driftwood.

6 discus could fit in there with a school of corydoras and perhaps some cardinals.

BloodThirsty28 said:

Now my water from the tap is quite hard 8.0+ . Would this be a major problem for discus since they like softer water of would they do ok with it?

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I wouldn't put discus in that water. Discus "like" soft water in the same way that marine fish "like" salty water — it's a basic requirement. While your fish might survive for a while, they will not thrive and will have (likely dramatically) shortened life spans. Options: You can use RO water mixed with a small percentage of tap water. You can use ion exchange resins (water softener pillow) to remove minerals. Or you can choose fish that can take hard water. It might be a problem installing an RO unit at work, and ion exchange resins can be pricey considering you'll have to replace them fairly often, so the third option might be the most practical. I would suggest a rift lake cichlid community.

i agree with monkey toes....soft water is essential for discus...pH isnt so relative as they can adapt to that. I'd also do as monkey toes said either try to soften your water...PRIOR to the discus and see what kind of buffering capabilities that your water has...but when you're doing 2x 50%+ w/cs a week that coudl possibly get expensive. I'd go with something like african cichlids that would work well in hard alkaline water.

I have seen discus that were purchased from a breeder, and were raised in water with a 8.0+ ph. Did just fine, beautiful colors, lived for years. But soft water is MUCH better.

I have never raised discus , but am quite familliar with new world cichlids, I would "think" if you used at least 1 magnum 350 with the hose attachment you could condition the water and when you clean it you leave behind conditioned water . any other thoughts on this

fronts can get to over 12 inches long so i wouldnt put two in there.

if you add driftwood, your water would be fine.

BloodThirsty28 said:

So I'm getting conflicting info even in this thread. Yes they will be ok in 8.0PH and no they will not. I am NOT willing to do a RO system at work, just way too much trouble. I personally feel like PH is WAAAAY overstated in fishkeeping. Especially with captive breed fish. I dunno though for sure with Discus I'm just saying in general.


FYI - I've been told two Fronts would work in this tank. Yes no? Guide me here people. lol

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*In my opinion* discus are best kept in soft acidic water. You will always get the people that will say, I know Joe blah blah blah that keeps discus in pH 8.3 blah blah blah and they do fine all day. That's great and I don't want to put anyone down or tell them that their experience is wrong etc... I've honestly seen discus kept alive in tanks that I wouldn't put the hardiest goldfish in. BUT... Discus are best kept in soft acidic waters. They will live longer, happier, healthier lives in soft acidic water. They will be more colorful, display more behavior, and readily breed in soft acidic water. If you want to keep discus alive, put them in pH 8.0, do lots of water changes, lose half the fish until you get a handful of hardy ones that hang with you. If you want to enjoy your discus as a hobbyist then purchase an RO/DI system and mix your change water (90% RO 10% tap).

I'll never understand why people will spend top dollar for filters, then buy multiple fish that keep dying when they could have spent $250 on a good RO unit that will keep making fantastic quality water for your SA/CA fish for years to come.

RO water, twice a week water changes, and a varied diet = VERY happy discus.

I agree that commercial raised , ph is not "SO MUCH" a factor but from all my" book expierence" with discus 8.0 is a little to high which is why i suggested the" water recycling" with a magnum 350 , you could add peat to the substrate to help lower the ph some. I'd see what the store's ph is in the discuss tank and see how hard it would be to match in your office.