Tell me about Discus!
- Thread starter BloodThirsty28
- Start date
My pH ranges from 8.1-8.3 and all my discus do great. Only problem I have is when they try to breed....the eggs dont do that well in a higher pH. I will say that when the pH is higher, water changes become more important.
-Ryan
-Ryan
This was advise given to me by UK breeders, where we typically have hard water.
If you're trying to breed them, then soft acidic water is required, balanced with regular water changes and good diet. RO units are vital in acheiving the desired water parameters.
If you're just keeping them, then they can be acclimitised to hard water, although many recommended HMA setups, whereby heavy metals are filtered out, but retain all other water parameters - these were designed by a discus breeder in the UK in the 1990's. However, once acclimitised to hard water, it can be very difficult to get them acclimitised back to soft water, without casualties!
Some breeders even recommended growing fry on in moderately hard water, as it aided in their physiololgy, but it's been a year since I researched discus and can't remember more, but ended up going down the CA route.
If you're trying to breed them, then soft acidic water is required, balanced with regular water changes and good diet. RO units are vital in acheiving the desired water parameters.
If you're just keeping them, then they can be acclimitised to hard water, although many recommended HMA setups, whereby heavy metals are filtered out, but retain all other water parameters - these were designed by a discus breeder in the UK in the 1990's. However, once acclimitised to hard water, it can be very difficult to get them acclimitised back to soft water, without casualties!
Some breeders even recommended growing fry on in moderately hard water, as it aided in their physiololgy, but it's been a year since I researched discus and can't remember more, but ended up going down the CA route.
Glad to see this thread as I just aquired 2 Discus on Saturday.
I am a little worried I did not make a good decision,and I have a few concerns.
About the PH. My tank is @ about 8.0 and the water from my tap is 7.8.
I only have 1 piece of driftwood in a 55 gal tank. I brought a water sample to the store I purchased to compare. He said mine looked to be about 7.8 and his was about 7.6-7.7. He was using test strips and I use a Master kit. He told me the Discus should be fine in my water.
Here is what he neglected to tell me and a few of my concerns:
I did not realize Discus prefer high water temps.My tank was @ 78 and now is @80 degrees. My concern is my other fish.
I have Black Skirts,Serpes,Swortails,Cory Cats,Cheery Barbs.assorted Plattys,Rasboras,and Glass Ghost Catfish.
Plattys,Barbs and Tetras (from what I read) max temperature(or preferred) is up to 79 degrees.
Also I do about a 20% water change every week. Now I am reading 50% every couple of days.
I certainly believe alot has to do with how they were raised. I ran across a few articles where people are breeding them from straight tap water with better success than they had with soft or RO water ?
I would really like to do what is best,as I really like these fish,but also enjoy my others.
I am thinking about another tank,but my wife would like me to try salt next.
Sorry about the lengthy post,but all EXPERIENCES with these fish would be appreciated.
I am a little worried I did not make a good decision,and I have a few concerns.
About the PH. My tank is @ about 8.0 and the water from my tap is 7.8.
I only have 1 piece of driftwood in a 55 gal tank. I brought a water sample to the store I purchased to compare. He said mine looked to be about 7.8 and his was about 7.6-7.7. He was using test strips and I use a Master kit. He told me the Discus should be fine in my water.
Here is what he neglected to tell me and a few of my concerns:
I did not realize Discus prefer high water temps.My tank was @ 78 and now is @80 degrees. My concern is my other fish.
I have Black Skirts,Serpes,Swortails,Cory Cats,Cheery Barbs.assorted Plattys,Rasboras,and Glass Ghost Catfish.
Plattys,Barbs and Tetras (from what I read) max temperature(or preferred) is up to 79 degrees.
Also I do about a 20% water change every week. Now I am reading 50% every couple of days.
I certainly believe alot has to do with how they were raised. I ran across a few articles where people are breeding them from straight tap water with better success than they had with soft or RO water ?
I would really like to do what is best,as I really like these fish,but also enjoy my others.
I am thinking about another tank,but my wife would like me to try salt next.
Sorry about the lengthy post,but all EXPERIENCES with these fish would be appreciated.
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I keep Discus but my water is 6.8-7.0
dh of 3-4 my tank temp is 84..they can be kept cooler but..they do best in warm water.
your pH pH of around 8 is fine to keep discus..many of the discus we see are captive bred. these fish have been introduced to parameters which may not be considered optimal fpr discus but have adapted.
but as mentioned this may present some problems if the discus try to breed.
RO/DI(reverse osmosis/de-ionize) units are great in these instances. it has been suggested that high pH or high kh inhibit the egg permeability ..FYI some success has been achieved at these pH levels.
while it is best to do large , frequent water changes for young discus..once they reach adult..you should be able to do 2weekly 30-40% water changes for adults and be fine.
dh of 3-4 my tank temp is 84..they can be kept cooler but..they do best in warm water.
your pH pH of around 8 is fine to keep discus..many of the discus we see are captive bred. these fish have been introduced to parameters which may not be considered optimal fpr discus but have adapted.
but as mentioned this may present some problems if the discus try to breed.
RO/DI(reverse osmosis/de-ionize) units are great in these instances. it has been suggested that high pH or high kh inhibit the egg permeability ..FYI some success has been achieved at these pH levels.
while it is best to do large , frequent water changes for young discus..once they reach adult..you should be able to do 2weekly 30-40% water changes for adults and be fine.
