Discus

[dean]

Hi everyone
I need some help if possible
i have 5 discus, 2 8/9 cm and the other 3 are 6 cm.
The adults seem to be ok but the smaller ones do not look happy, they are black most of the time. And they are hiding quite alot of the time.( all the fish are quite slugish in the tank)they are eating.
i have a 4 foot by 18 by 15 tank with added co2
The ph does fluctuate quite alot which i think is due to the co2 being put into the water.
I have got an ro water system connected to the mains.
Have a 4 foot tank in the loft which i have been filling up with 75 percent ro / 25 percet tap water and heating to 82 same as normal tank.
The person i bought the discus off said to do that mix of water and not to add chemicals.
But the fish still seem unhappy. Do i need to add some ph rite to the water i am mixing to stop all the fluctuations???
Do i need to buy a ph controler to controler the co2 so i keep a constant ph of 7?? i was thinking that i could of been adding to much co2 to the water and that is what is causing the fluctuations??
could it be that the bigger fish areok with the fluctuations but the smaller fish are not??
Thanks
Dean
How do you insert a picture???

 

[simonbrown403]

Your on about co2, i take it you have a planted tank.

1st you need to keep the PH of your water as stable as possible as fluxuations carse Ph shock in your fish, which would carse your symptoms, especially the sluggish behaviour which might be due to high levels of co2.

Adult discus can tolerate a certain fluctuation better tan young discus as they have a fully developed immune system, but younger discus don't do to well in plated tanks due to the high levels of nutrients, which can lead to immune system problems and death through secondary infection.

I would ditch the co2 and the controller, and concentrate on your water quality, your PH and temp need to be as stable as possible.
Doing regular water changes will help keep your PH stable, of no less than 30% a week.
As you have a high stock in your tank it high be better to do 50ltr+ water change every 3rd day which will keep the PH more stable, while doing this you could feed a high protein diet to speed up growth, and help them to there adult size.

If you are using r/o water, I'd recommend a remineralizing agent like Kent r/o right or seachem equilibrium, to help you control the water parameters, as you know exactly what is in them.
Mixing r/o and tap water can be hit and miss due to fluxuations in parameters, and also the it can contain high levels of of nutrients such as phosphate and nitrate and also dissolved metals and organics which again can weaken there immune systems and open to secondery infection.
When doing your water changes its important to match the PH and temp as closely as possible, KH and GH to a lesser extent to minimize shock and stress.

 

[KageBunshin]

My Ph used to fluctuate quite often. Then I got Seachem's Discus Buffer, which lowers the Ph down to about 6.5 and keeps it there quite well.

Dang I sound like some sort of commercial. B)

all jokes aside, I think simon brown is correct whith the juvies. Juvies should be in a seperate bare bottom tank because they need to be fed heavily and barebottom is the easiest and most stress free way to grow out the youngin's.

 

[dean]

Thanks
Would the kent ro mess with my plants in the tank though?
Might put the smaller discus in the tank in the loft as the tank is bear, grow them up for a while and then put them back down in the main tank with the larger ones?
what do you think

 

[simonbrown403]

Thanks
Would the kent ro mess with my plants in the tank though?
Might put the smaller discus in the tank in the loft as the tank is bear, grow them up for a while and then put them back down in the main tank with the larger ones?
what do you think

No kent r/o right is fine, i use to use it but cant get hold of it hear anymore.

 

[jmuccillo]

The little ones would probably do better in a separate bare bottom tank. If you do this you could also raise the water temp. to 86 F. They will do better in these conditions. Once they have grown out a bit you can slowly reduce the temp. back to that of your main tank and finally put them in with the others.

 

[simonbrown403]

How do you insert a picture???

You need and online photo album such as photobucket.
Once you registers upload your photos, resize them by clicking on edit, (i generally do a 50%) and then copy and paste the image code under you pic.

 

[dean]

Thanks Simon
In the main tank down stairs i have 5 discus 2 larger ones and 3 smaller ones.
out of the 3 smaller ones i have 1 fish that picks on both of the other small ones.
Would it be a good idea for me to put to put the 2 smaller ones in a tank on there own
1 of the smaller ones doesnt even come out into the tank as the other one wont allow it and i am worried that it might die due to not getting enough food.
The discus in the tank look happy now. Water is fine.
Discus are very tricky to keep( buts a challenge is good).
I will take some pics to show.
Dean