Discus

[nicky b]

hey guys,
i have a fish tank already im a oscar keeper atm and loving every second of it anyways ill get to the point, what do i do to start me self off keeping discus alive and well, what fillters do i need? How do i do the water right water changes do i need an osmosis filter to run the tap water through? what food to give them? How many time a week do i have to do a water change? What ph do they like best, what temp do they like there water at anyways if there anything i have miss just add it in there i rally want to try and keep these fantastic fish, i have bn looking around how to keep them but i want to ask you guys aswell because you know what your talking about thanks hope someone can help

 

[onidrase]

They're schooling fish (need groups of 6 or more), need to be kept in soft acidic water, in a tank at least 4 feet long. You'll need to do plenty of water changes, 50% a week or more frequent smaller water changes are prefered, like 20% every 2-3 days, as they're very sensitive to nitrate, which is almost always present in a cycled aquarium. You can also help lowering nitrates with plenty of live plants, and lowering hardness a tad with real driftwood (but don't rely solely on that.) They prefer a much higher temperature of about 86 degrees F, which limits your choices in tank mates.

I've probably barely scraped the surface, there, but that's some basic care.

 

[snake007]

+1 ^

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

Nicky b, First thing I will say is don't be put off by the perception that they difficult to care for. The main thing is water quality. Start by properly testing your tap water to see what you have, if your water is suitable then that is the biggest hurdle overcome. If it is not suitable, then you need to seriously ask yourself if you want the work required to generate enough quality water. You can't simply plug in an RO unit, as that water will still need adjusting, not to mention that they are quite wasteful systems.

Let's assume that you tap water is OK, fairly soft and acidic, free from nasty chemicals, then the next question do you have 30 minutes spare most days? If yes, then you are looking good.

There are a range of things I could harp on about, but the main one to healthy fish is regular large water changes. So you need a system sorted that will make this as easy as possible for you.....forget buckets and a siphon, that will get old and tiresome very quickly! Mine get 50% water changes every other day, you can get away with less, but if you want them really healthy this is what they will like. Sounds a lot, but it takes me about 15 minutes to do a 400 liter tank.

As for a filter, any decent external will do it. Look to get a capacity to turnover the complete tank volume at least 4 times per hour. They also don't like a lot of water movement, so you need to set the filter up so that the water flow around the tank is gentle.

I could go on all day, but won't

........ Just punt me any questions and I will do my best to help. For me they are great fish, and very rewarding..... so go for it!

Cheers,
Phil

 

[nicky b]

i have one question how do i test to see if my tap water it ok ?

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

i have one question how do i test to see if my tap water it ok ?

You will need to go and by yourself a decent test kit from your LFS, don't use the all in one test strips they are not accurate.

Here is what you want coming from your tap(for keeping Discus, not breeding):

pH 5.5 - 7.5
GH 5 - 12
KH 4 - 8
Ammonia 0

Fill a glass from your tap and let it stand for 24 hours before testing it, so that it can off gas, or you may get false readings.

 

[nicky b]

i do have a test kit already what i could test the PH and Ammonia of my tap water this is my test kit http/i.imgur.com/Qhbnw.jpg and http/i.imgur.com/WYJ81.jpg

but what is GH and KH ?
sorry for being a pain

and to make life easyer would a 2 sage HMA unit help me with my water changes ?

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

i do have a test kit already what i could test the PH and Ammonia of my tap water this is my test kit http/i.imgur.com/Qhbnw.jpg and http/i.imgur.com/WYJ81.jpg

but what is GH and KH ?
sorry for being a pain

and to make life easyer would a 2 sage HMA unit help me with my water changes ?

GH = General Hardness
KH + Carbonate Hardness

Don't worry about treating and filtering your tap water, as it may not need it. If later down the road you are looking to try to breed them, then that's another story. For now try to make your life easy, as you will find caring for them less of a chore and the fish will be better off for it.


I keep(and breed) mine in my tap water, and they are super healthy.

And you are not a pain

 

[nicky b]

I've just tested my tap water that has been standing in a bucket for 24 hours, Ready to change my oscars water.
The PH was - 7.5
amonia - 0
How would i test: GH & KH

Will i have to go to my LFS to get a test kit to test GH & KH??

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

I've just tested my tap water that has been standing in a bucket for 24 hours, Ready to change my oscars water.
The PH was - 7.5
amonia - 0
How would i test: GH & KH

Will i have to go to my LFS to get a test kit to test GH & KH??

Yep, they should have those kits. If you do want to keep discus, and are serious about it, then you are as well to invest in a complete test kit like the Nutrafin Master Test Kit. It is not cheap, but then neither are Discus. Which part of the world do you live in?

Also, once you know your water it will help you better select which strains of fish to go for, as some are more tolerant to certain water parameters than others.

 

[nicky b]

i live in the area dudley, but if you don't know that area its close to wolverhamptom ish

i have saw the test kits you are on about this is one i was going to invest in ? http/www.petco.com/product/112561/NutraFin-Master-Aquarium-Test-Kit.aspx is this anygood ?

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

i live in the area dudley, but if you don't know that area its close to wolverhamptom ish

i have saw the test kits you are on about this is one i was going to invest in ? http/www.petco.com...m-Test-Kit.aspx is this anygood ?

That's the one, but have a search about, as you can get them for about 70 quid.

i live in the area dudley, but if you don't know that area its close to wolverhamptom ish

i have saw the test kits you are on about this is one i was going to invest in ? http/www.petco.com...m-Test-Kit.aspx is this anygood ?

That's the one, but have a search about, as you can get them for about 70 quid.

Here you go...... 50 quid new on Ebay: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nutrafin-Master-Tropical-and-Marine-Aquarium-Test-Kit-/300599405875?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item45fd1eed33#ht_1695wt_1139

 

[nicky b]

oh why thank you and yes they sell the same kit for 50 pounds at my LFS

oh and when you said i don't have to worry about treating and filtering my tap water do you mean i don't have to worry about buying a HMA unit, and i can just leave me tap water to stand for 24hours with water safe added to get rid of any nasty chemicals will this be fine when it comes to discus ? Because this is what i do anyways when i do a water change on my oscar tank ? ? ?

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

oh why thank you and yes they sell the same kit for 50 pounds at my LFS

oh and when you said i don't have to worry about treating and filtering my tap water do you mean i don't have to worry about buying a HMA unit, and i can just leave me tap water to stand for 24hours with water safe added to get rid of any nasty chemicals will this be fine when it comes to discus ? Because this is what i do anyways when i do a water change on my oscar tank ? ? ?

If the water from your tap falls within the excepted parameters, then no need to go to all the effort of filtering it, so don't buy an HMA unit, unless you really need it. Most farmed Discus are actually quite tolerant of harder neutral water. It is wild strains that are the real difficult and sensitive ones.

 

[GShorty1981]

I kept them for years in normal tap water with angels and neons and corys at 28c, i lost a couple of small ones when i first got them because they wouldnt eat flake, i didnt realise this till it was to late, then i went and bought some discus that were the size of a cd and they were fine until i got bored of them a few years later and sold them on.

I never did any more than the standard 10% water change a week, just some cabomba and giant vallis plants and no bog wood, the water was pretty hard were i lived at the time, was about 7.8