i mean discus fish how hard can it be???

[freddyk]

I'm talking about keeping and raising them from when you buy them. Breeding them can be trickier. I'm not insulted, but I know any one of you can keep them in ph 7.6, pristine water.

Pristine water? Well, the notion of pristine can change with ph. The toxic affects of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate increase as the ph rises, which means the higher the ph, the lower the nitrates need to be. 7.6 is getting on the high side for this reason, but as long as the water is kept nicely it is perfectly feasable, which is my main point, and I've known enough aquarists to keep these fish in normal tap water to know it works. And if you think your lfs keeps them in 'special water', well... let's just say it's unlikely.

 

[Maroonostrich]

You know, my uncle has 6 discus fish and has done for a couple of years now, and they are beautiful...

He has never tested their water! He said he was lucky enough to be in a good water area and when he learned what it was like that was good enough for him- he thinks I'm a bit barmy taking the many many precautions I am with my new tank.

His fish are lovely and healthy and he thinks a lot of people worry too much about the chemistry and that just keeping an eye on your basics like not rushing into a new tank and when you have healthy fish just being happy with that and not eternally fiddling and throwing in new individuals is what you should do.

I'm not saying he's right and whilst it can possibly NOT work many times, for him being a bit more simplistic certainly seems to have worked out!

 

[abstract]

i never knew that about the higher pH and ammonia/nitrite/nitrate being more toxic! very interesting and now i understand...so it is recommended to keep them in lower pH because, in essence, the harmful toxins will be less toxic? very interesting! and just out of curiosity, what makes these things more toxic in higher pH (if you know that is - but you sound like you probably do)?

 

[freddyk]

Well, it's something to do with the ph and ionization and the whatsits and the whoswhats. I'm no scientist - just a fish keeper. When I have time I'll see if I can dig it up.

 

[abstract]

Well, it's something to do with the ph and ionization and the whatsits and the whoswhats. I'm no scientist - just a fish keeper. When I have time I'll see if I can dig it up.

lol, fair enough!

 

[simonbrown403]

I agree an R/O unit is not always needed, if you have quality water (which not everyone dose) water peramiters dont kill directly, but will stress fish and open them upto secondary infections

Tap water is made up of many things, ions +- that foms your PH, minerals that form your GH/KH, desolved metals, somr that are esencial for growth and health and in exsecss can kill, desloved organics, nitrate/phosphate and and other chemicals like chlorine and chloramide.

Most tap water is to unpradictable, most water athoritys add chlorine and or chloramide, you can get rid of this with water condisaners.
The Ph can flucuate i personal have noted changes from 6.8 to 7.5 in a week.

discus do not tolerate high levels of contaminets in the water such as desolved solids ie metals/organics, high levels of phosphat/nitrate and also chemicals and fertalizers that are also present.
these tend to weaken the discus amuin systems, which usuall leads to death.
i have learnt this through exsperance.

follow these basic rules:
(1) research the fishes needs, talk to people that know ie lfs or discus keepers in your area.
(2) look after your water and the fish will look after them selfs. (qualty, stable PH and temp)
(3) feed a balanced diet

many problems are carsed by poor husbandry.

 

[John_Nicholson]

The water that discus need is clean and about 82 degrees. Don't worry about ph or hardness unless you want to breed them. More discus are killed with medications, and lack of water changes then anything. The first mistake that most people make is to buy cheap, hormoned discus from a local fish store. If a young discus has much color then it is more then likely hormoned. This really does a number on the liver. Whoever buys the fish can handle them perfectly but they will get sick often and die at around a year. People then label discus as hard. If you get goos healthy stock they are not hard to keep.

-john

 

[John_Nicholson]

Another pic or two.

All pics are of my fish and from my fishroom.

-john

 

[abstract]

 

[BOD]

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww mini discus yay! what a great pic babies