Discus needs your help!

R

rdzralph

AC Members
Sep 14, 2007
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My setup 60gal planted tank with pressurized co2 sand substrate with 1 emperor 400 and 1 magnum hot filter. Inhabitants consist of 5 discus 8 rummy nose tetra 3 German ram, 3 dwarf puffers, and 3 sucker mouth catfish. Currently my parameters are ammonia 0, nitrite 0. nitrate 0, and ph 7.6.
Sunday night I noticed one of my discus swimming vertically by the water outlet. On Monday I checked my parameters and my ammonia and nitrate where little above the normal 0 so I did a 25% water change boosted up the temperature to 85-87 degrees and after the water change the discus was at the bottom of the tank with no movement for sure I thought I was going to lose him, the next morning he was up by the water outlet again swimming vertically and I checked my parameters and they where all at 0 and he dose eat during feeding time but swims abnormally, but he is always goes back to the water outlet at vertical position, what’s wrong ?. Thank you in advance for any help.
 
0 nitrates?

in planted tanks don't you want some nitrate readings?

how long has the tank been set up?
 
I always have 0 nitrates in my planted tank and I've never had a problem. Sounds like he may have a disease or parasite.
 
hmm odd I was under the impression that you should have 10 to 1 ratio of nitrates to phosphates.

many times added via fertilizers KNO3 and others.
 
My nitrates have always been zero acually then nitrates had an increase a bit above zero but when down to zero like they have alawys been.
 
Do you notice any kind of a bulge around the stomach area? And, sorry, I'm trying to picture what exactly you mean by swimming vertically....
Does the discus appear to be having a balancing problem where it doesn't seem to have a lot of control over where it's body goes? Have you observed any headstanding? Does the fish seem darker and/or showing stress bars?
 
What not acutally swimming vertically but hides under the water oulet verically and he does seem to have lost some color, no stress bars, no bulge in stomach, does have a balace problem and struggles to stay under the water outlet. During feeding time does eat but seems not to have much control where he goes.
 
It sounds like one of two things: Bloat in which case remove the discus to a QT tank immediately and begin treating with epsom salts to evacuate the cause of the bloat, or....and I hope not.....Swim Bladder failure for which there is no cure. I lost a beautiful subadult discus a few weeks ago from sudden swimbladder failure.

You're not seeing any swelling around the belly area which if it was Bloat....you'd see a small bulge there.
 
Thanks Debbi when I get home today after work I will take a closer look and due the salt treatment hopefully I will see a bulge there. What do recommend the dosage of salt to gallon of water.
 
It's 2 to 3 tablespoons per 10 gallons I believe (I have it written on my Epsom Salts box at home). Epsom salts is a laxative so won't hurt them. You should see relief (and a huge discus poop) within 24 hours, can be redosed after that though.
 
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