Just thought I'd share this with all my fellow aquarists.
Over last 6 weeks or so I've had ailing discus. Flicking, white faeces, darkening etc. Treated for worms.....water changes...fluke treatment.....water changes......Octozin......water changes. Saw little improvement really, even though water parameters checked out fine. Now, nitrate test kit needed replacing. Bought my normal one, tetra test, and was puzzled by the contents when I opened it. Then the penny dropped!! In the bottom of my test kit tub I then found the vile of grey powder, the one I hadn't been using!!! Well, did I feel a prat. Tested straight away, the correct way, and instead of the 12.5 reading I now had it off the scale in under 2 mins. So, a succession of 75% water changes over 4 days now have it back down. Problem is with my epilepsy I have an extremely poor memory and often forget the most obvious things. I'll stop feeding the home made beefheart as, with everything I have in it its extremely rich and high in protein and I can't syphon much of the tank as its fully planted. I'm sure the food is the cause of the nitrate level being so high. Came in tonight to see a full spawn again on a sword leaf, so the discus are clearly feeling better.
All bar one which still hangs out in the same corner away from the others. Just mentioned my concerns to the wife who came out with a cracker (dopism lol)........ Maybe it just likes watching tv.....priceless.
Over last 6 weeks or so I've had ailing discus. Flicking, white faeces, darkening etc. Treated for worms.....water changes...fluke treatment.....water changes......Octozin......water changes. Saw little improvement really, even though water parameters checked out fine. Now, nitrate test kit needed replacing. Bought my normal one, tetra test, and was puzzled by the contents when I opened it. Then the penny dropped!! In the bottom of my test kit tub I then found the vile of grey powder, the one I hadn't been using!!! Well, did I feel a prat. Tested straight away, the correct way, and instead of the 12.5 reading I now had it off the scale in under 2 mins. So, a succession of 75% water changes over 4 days now have it back down. Problem is with my epilepsy I have an extremely poor memory and often forget the most obvious things. I'll stop feeding the home made beefheart as, with everything I have in it its extremely rich and high in protein and I can't syphon much of the tank as its fully planted. I'm sure the food is the cause of the nitrate level being so high. Came in tonight to see a full spawn again on a sword leaf, so the discus are clearly feeling better.
All bar one which still hangs out in the same corner away from the others. Just mentioned my concerns to the wife who came out with a cracker (dopism lol)........ Maybe it just likes watching tv.....priceless.
