Discus Tankmates

[markandhisfish]

thanks for the link discuslover i will take a look but i will most likely go for rummynose theres something about them i really like . yeah tr0p1cal i was meaning uk gallons . just googled the electric blue rams im loving the look of them .

1 thing thats playing on my mind is water chemistry . if my ph gh and kh arent ideal do i need to adjust them and if so how? or is it better to slowly acclimatise the discus to the water that i have in my area?

 

[minxfishy]

Assuming you get tank bred discus, then just acclimatise them slowly and they should be fine, I believe its wild caughts that have the problem with higher ph/kh.

If only you were closer, I would have Vinny from you, he and Harry together would be lovely, unfortunately your just too far, but I know you will find him a good home.

 

[markandhisfish]

Assuming you get tank bred discus, then just acclimatise them slowly and they should be fine, I believe its wild caughts that have the problem with higher ph/kh.

If only you were closer, I would have Vinny from you, he and Harry together would be lovely, unfortunately your just too far, but I know you will find him a good home.

where are you ?

 

[minxfishy]

Up nr Wolverhampton

 

[markandhisfish]

yep that is quite a trip

 

[discus_lover]

drip acclimation method is one of the best method for balancing those water parameter. since discus fish needs more pure water do partial water change in every 3-4 days...

 

[markandhisfish]

drip acclimatise? how is the easiest way of doing this please? i will have 6 discus to do this with all individually bagged

 

[discus_lover]

The most common method for introducing new fish into an aquarium is to float the plastic bag for a while, then gradually mix the aquarium water with the fish store water in the bag. It works for many species, but there is a better way of introducing more sensitive fish into a new aquarium. The drip acclimation method sounds complicated; it's really not. You can even buy a cheap drip acclimation kit from the on-line stores. Or you can make one.

Get about four feet of aquarium air hose, and put a regular air valve on one end. When you get the fish home, put them along with the aquarium store water into a clean plastic bucket that holds a couple gallons. Make sure to cover the bucket so the fish can't jump out. Open the air valve all the way, and fill the air hose with water. Clip it to the inside of the aquarium that will hold the fish, and let the water syphon into the bucket. Adjust the output to a drip so the bucket takes about an hour to fill up most of the way. When the bucket is about full, remove the syphon and gently dump the fish into the aquarium.

If you buy one of the drip acclimation kits, they have a rigid, u-shaped tube on the intake end, so you you don't have to bother with clipping the intake to the aquarium. They also have a plastic valve on the output end.

Drip acclimation will reduce much of the stress associated with moving fish from one environment to another.

 

[markandhisfish]

ahh thanks it makes sense now. so i take it youd need to have a heater in the bucket? also is it best to add all my discus together or to stagger them maybe adding 3 1 week then 3 the following week?

 

[discus_lover]

generally i introuduce an adult discus only after the previous discus is completely settled in my tank..

 

[markandhisfish]

so i shouldnt buy all 6 together?

 

[discus_lover]

no...