Discus Tank Questions

[enchanted]

Well, I'm starting the stand tomorrow for my Discuss Tank and I had a few questions about equipment, etc....

I know Discus prefer a low PH 6.5 to 7. Using Pressurized CO2 and a PH Controller is this feasable?

The PH here starts at 7.8 and I have heard of people mainting a 1+ lower PH with CO2. Right now my single 2 LIter on a 55 Gallon Planted in maintaining a .3 lower PH.

Next question are clowns okay with Discus? And corys? What else would be okay? This will be a fully planted tank also with lots of slate and bogwood....

 

[enchanted]

I know there are people here that know Discus, PH, CO2, etc... Some Advice, etc... would be nice. B)

 

[Arch]

Hi there!

Wouldn't advise clowns with Discus - I had 6 clowns before i changed over to discus and had to get rid of them which was upsetting as I really loved the little guys - they are a great fish brill character. However if you want to focus on Discus - thats really what you need to do. The Discus excrete a mucus and the Clowns seemed to like it - same way pleco's are a no no as they can suck on your Discus. Best fish to keep with them are neons - they look great with them when you get a group of them. To keep algae down - otto's are the safest. Some people will disagree and have had some luck keeping clowns or plecos with Discus but generally it is not advised. If you want to concentrate on Discus then you gotta think of them - it does limit you to what you can put in the tank.

They love plants and bogwood - try to set it so they have gaps to swim through and play in. That is what their natural habitat is like and hence their shape allows them to do this I have two onion plants in mine which are great as they grow really long and the discus love swimming among the leaves.

I cant really advise on your ph problem sorry but your right that 7.8 is too high. I'm sure someone else will be able to help you on this

 

[copeina]

To resolve pH and hardness issues:

http/www.rockymountaindiscus.com/rofaqs.htm

A good, complete article on keeping discus with some amount of success:

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/breeding_discus.php


Lots of information on the web. Make Google your best friend!

Good luck,
/Kris

 

[enchanted]

I'm trying to avoid RO if possible because it also ends up removing buffering capacity from the water and it takes a lot of work to stabilize an RO tank.

 

[copeina]

I'm trying to avoid RO if possible because it also ends up removing buffering capacity from the water and it takes a lot of work to stabilize an RO tank.

The second link recommends a TDS meter to help make the job easier, but you NEED to remove the buffering capacity in order to lower your pH and keep it from creeping back up.

You can also filter through peatmoss, add pH Down, or use 50% or more bottled water, but you will find you will need RO eventually if you are going to keep discus in your area.

Do some research on rebuilding water chemistry, or find someone locally who is using RO to help you out. Aquarium Societies are excellent resources, and most towns have one.

Good luck,
/Kris

 

[enchanted]

I have done a lot of research which is why I asked about the CO2. This is going to be a planted tank and CO2 lowers PH without lowering the buffering capacity.

 

[David]

I have kept clowns with discus with no problems, and they are kept with clowns at 2 of my LFS. So I would say it's possible, but it's better to have discus in a species tank anyway.

 

[enchanted]

I like the concept of a species tank, just means I am going to have to carefully screen tanks. I know that Julii cories will be okay and otos to be the cleanup crew.

Past that then no other fish and full screening of all plants, etc.... going into the tank to make sure no snails, etc...


My biggest worry is PH though. My problem with Reverse Osmosis is the cost. I'm looking at prices from $100 into the $1,000.00 range. That is the reason I am looking into what I can do with a pressurized CO2 system. I'm starting with a 55 Gallon tank for discus. I am planning for it to be a heavily planted tank w/ driftwood and a little slate for some small caves, etc... for the corys/otos...

Here is what I have come up with for stocking:
6 Discuss starting with 8 as Juvenilles and hopefully I will get 3 pair and the other 2 will be sold to my LFS.

7 Julii Cories

5 Otos

Other than plants, that is probably the whole tank right there.

But again back to the PH. I have read where people maintain a 6.8 from a 8.0 PH with CO2 Pressurized systems for there plants.

I guess this is my biggest question.

Comments on the stocking are welcome and I would be interested in what plants are native their part of the world.

 

[FloridaFishGuy]

Why are you going to need an R/O if your not going to breed? If you can keep the pH stable with a co2 system then you will be fine.

 

[bugsy66]

I can only give you my experience with lowering PH. DO NOT DO IT, I used to breed angels, we have high ph here with our tap water. I lost more angels due to this and the fry as well. I thought to heck with tampering with water and just let it be and see if they breed and raise fry in the higher ph.

Well I can gladly say that I bred and raised angels for 2 years with not adjusting my ph at all. We have hard alkaline water with high ph. When I go and buy fish from our local stores they certainly do not use special water for their fish tanks and the fish are then used to this type of water we all have.

My newest addition is a Discus, very very hard to get here as they are a specialty fish and most fish keepers don't want to devote a tank just to them. I certainly would. There again, no special water adjustments were made. I was only able to get one Discus I would have loved to have more but I will get what I can and I want healthy too. Right now my baby discus is in my community tank with my angel and a few white clouds and leopard danios doing just great. Eating like a little piggy and just a very beautiful fish.

Clean warm water is what they need big time more than adjusting the ph. I also feel this is important for the angels to. I treat my angel like it were an expensive discus and give it the best water quality possible "clean and warm".

You mention you have bog wood going into your tank, this also lowers the ph and many big time discus breeders would like to see you use peat to lower your ph of your water rather than chemicals.

If you are not going to breed discus and want a beautiful tank my 2 cents worth is keep away from as many chemicals in a tank as you can.

Good Luck to you and your discus.....bugsy

 

[enchanted]

Well, neither reverse osmosis nor CO2 are chemicals. I won't use PH up down stuff.

I would like them to breed, but it is not a requirement. I have decided not set this up right away but to start putting everything together to setup this tank. My reasoning is I am thinking of buying a couple 125 Gallon tanks with one specifically for discus. This means 4 to 6 months before I will be near ready.

But back to the subject on hand. What would be the big difference between reverse osmosis and CO2? CO2 is going to lower the tanks PH also anyways, right? Even with a low ph?

 

[MissClaire]

I am having Ph nightmares......
trying to get my Ph down Ive managed to loose half of my stock in my tank.
My discus seem ok, but my PH has rocketed back up to 7.6
If you find out any easy ways please let me know!
Im starting to wish I got fish with a high tolerence to a high Ph...but discus are so beautiful and kind creatures!

as for my corys and clowns they seem fine with my discus, no worries there.

 

[MissClaire]

I can only give you my experience with lowering PH. DO NOT DO IT, I used to breed angels, we have high ph here with our tap water. I lost more angels due to this and the fry as well. I thought to heck with tampering with water and just let it be and see if they breed and raise fry in the higher ph.

I wish I spoke to you about two weeks earlier!
Yup, dont use PH down crap it will only make your tank flactuate and all your fish die!!!
My discus seem happier without me tampering with the PH, a high stable PH is better then a PH all over the place, still not the best, argh the nightmares ive been through!

 

[gaya]

I have no experience with Discus but I have used CO2 on a couple of tanks and it does keep the ph low IME. good luck