Bought Some Discus For The First Time.

[poconoboss]

on your 5th pic what is the the discus called the one on the far left?

Brilliant blue.

 

[poconoboss]

Thats just a blue turqoise in my avatar. How many gallons is your tank? It dosen't look very large. I dont think I would add anymore discus to it if you want them to have any chance at acheiving good growth. Discus are extremely sensitive to water quality, it wont necessarily kill them but it will without a doubt stunt their growth. When my discus where the size of yours I changed my tank to a barebottom and did 75% water changes everyday. With how much decor and gravel you have I would try to do them twice a day if you're not considering stripping down that tank, which I suggest you do if you are serious about keeping/growing out discus.

Discuslova has barebottom tanks too, and if you go to a real discus forum you will find that everyone one those sites does it as well. I just added that sand to my tank a few weeks ago and im already realizing my mistake and am preparing to remove it.

40% water changed twice a week is not going to cut it in your tank, I dont care what your water tests say. Its been shown time and time again that the only way to successfully grow out discus is with fresh water and a lot of it. You should be feeding 6-8 times a day, and a varied diet, not just beefheart.

My tank is 85gal. I plan on getting a 240Gal soon, and my plan was to remove the Discus when the get larger and put them into that tank.

I have no plan on stripping down the tank, I really don't like that look, I am going for the planted, natural look. Water changes twice a day is just ridiculous, I get home at 6pm from work, do you suggest I change the water at 6pm, then again at midnight? I mean c'mon?? I have stepped up my changes to 75% every other day, I might add, that I vacuum my gravel during my water changes as well. My levels continue to be all Zero for Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite. PH is steady around 6.6.

I never said I only feed beefheart, I do feed my fish mulitiple times a day. They get beefheart, Frozen Bloodworms, Freeze dried Tubifex, Flake (Reg and Spirulina) and Granules.

Sorry, but I have no interest in a stripped down tank, to me having a nicely decorated, planted tank is half the joy of fishkeeping and the fish seem to really love the natural plants. as well.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Thats just a blue turqoise in my avatar. How many gallons is your tank? It dosen't look very large. I dont think I would add anymore discus to it if you want them to have any chance at acheiving good growth. Discus are extremely sensitive to water quality, it wont necessarily kill them but it will without a doubt stunt their growth. When my discus where the size of yours I changed my tank to a barebottom and did 75% water changes everyday. With how much decor and gravel you have I would try to do them twice a day if you're not considering stripping down that tank, which I suggest you do if you are serious about keeping/growing out discus.

Discuslova has barebottom tanks too, and if you go to a real discus forum you will find that everyone one those sites does it as well. I just added that sand to my tank a few weeks ago and im already realizing my mistake and am preparing to remove it.

40% water changed twice a week is not going to cut it in your tank, I dont care what your water tests say. Its been shown time and time again that the only way to successfully grow out discus is with fresh water and a lot of it. You should be feeding 6-8 times a day, and a varied diet, not just beefheart.

My tank is 85gal. I plan on getting a 240Gal soon, and my plan was to remove the Discus when the get larger and put them into that tank.

I have no plan on stripping down the tank, I really don't like that look, I am going for the planted, natural look. Water changes twice a day is just ridiculous, I get home at 6pm from work, do you suggest I change the water at 6pm, then again at midnight? I mean c'mon?? I have stepped up my changes to 75% every other day, I might add, that I vacuum my gravel during my water changes as well. My levels continue to be all Zero for Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite. PH is steady around 6.6.

I never said I only feed beefheart, I do feed my fish mulitiple times a day. They get beefheart, Frozen Bloodworms, Freeze dried Tubifex, Flake (Reg and Spirulina) and Granules.

Sorry, but I have no interest in a stripped down tank, to me having a nicely decorated, planted tank is half the joy of fishkeeping and the fish seem to really love the natural plants. as well.

It's your choice to keep your fish the way you want to keep them, but he is correct in that you need to have a very clean tank in order to properly grow them out, it is much easier to clean a bare bottom tank then it is a tank with gravel. You will find most good Discus keepers don`t recommend growing Discus out in a planted tank, rather growing them out and then placing them in the planted tank. Even though your ammonia, nitrite and nitrates that dosen't really mean your tank is clean (to an extent.) It is proven Discus need FRESH water in order to grow. I believe this has to do with the amount of D.O.C's in the water.

 

[Jim Curtis]

"Water changes twice a day is just ridiculous, I get home at 6pm from work, do you suggest I change the water at 6pm, then again at midnight? I mean c'mon??"

Seriously, that tank really isnt suitable for discus. Anyone with any experience with this fish will tell you. Sooner or later you will be on our side of the fence. You should really go to the discus forums and read up. Pretty much every article on Discus will tell you that anything other than a barebottom tank, frequent water changes, a group of 5, species only tank will result in runts.

Another forum that is dedicated to discus did a contest last year where a breeder sent 5 or 6 people each a dozen discus from the same batch of fry. All experienced discus keepers, one used this opportunity as a chance to really put to an end the idea that discus could be grown out in a tank like yours. He put his fish in a 60 gallon community tank, with plants and gravel. In the end his fish were barely 4" where the rest of the conestants fish were 6"+, beautifully shaped and pairing up. It is all documented and photographed on another forum. I will PM you the link.

 

[shaz-killie]

These guys are spot on with there knowledge of discus. I do have my discus in a planted tank which I love however it increases the amount of work you need to do on the tank 10 times. currently im doing two 50% changes a day and considering uping it to either three times or 75%. the smaller of my discus I'm planning on transferring into a bare bottom tank to bring them up to size.

 

[beechey]

thanks ive had mine for two years never been able to id him he was was first ever discus lol

on your 5th pic what is the the discus called the one on the far left?

Brilliant blue.

 

[beechey]

and a pic guarding the eggs as mine is a male

 

[poconoboss]

I think I'm getting addicted...I gave away some of my other fish and I went and bought some more discus today.


Pigeon pearl:

Super Red Diamond:

High Fin Blue Diamond:

Apricot Rainbow:

Will look like this when mature:

Blue Green Snakeskin:

When gets a little older will start to develop color like this:

Blue Diamond and Apricot Rainbow getting cozy:

 

[pinkdolphin_113]

your discus are amazing! one day i will have some too

so how much have they cost ya so far?

pink.

 

[poconoboss]

your discus are amazing! one day i will have some too

so how much have they cost ya so far?

pink.

Thanks.

Well, these news ones were a birthday present from my girlfriend so I didn't pay for them.

 

[LellowFish]

You must have an amazing girlfriend to buy you fish for your birthday! My fiance wouldn't do that, he doesn't see the point in fish. I must add that those discus are stunning, especially the Pigeon Pearl.

 

[GobyMaster]

Absolutely gorgeous discus!

I'd love to get some in a tank, they are truly beautiful fish.

Where'd you get the background? It's amazing!

Cheers,
GobyMaster

 

[poconoboss]

You must have an amazing girlfriend to buy you fish for your birthday! My fiance wouldn't do that, he doesn't see the point in fish. I must add that those discus are stunning, especially the Pigeon Pearl.

Yeah, she's pretty amazing to buy me $300. worth of fish for my birthday. She loves my fish and has really started to love Discus. She want's me to set up another Discus only tank in another room in the house.

I can't wait until the Pigeon Pearl developes it's full color, it should be awesome!...Just like my girlfriend.

Where'd you get the background? It's amazing!

Cheers,
GobyMaster

http/www.aquariumhabitats.com/

 

[GobyMaster]

Thanks!

 

[Againsthecurrent]

Those are great looking Discus! I bought local and wish they were as colorful as yours.