Keeping Discus

[envious]

hi iv been thinking about getting some discus but alot of things i read say different things my water has a ph of around 7.2 and hardness of about 80ppm would this be suitible also the tank is 4 ft and quite tall. i currently have a few guppies in the tank but they can be moved into another tank if the discus will eat them. iv also read that they need daily water changes is this right even in a planted aquarium, my water conditions are always perfect.
thanks

 

[amy1994]

hi iv been thinking about getting some discus but alot of things i read say different things my water has a ph of around 7.2 and hardness of about 80ppm would this be suitible also the tank is 4 ft and quite tall. i currently have a few guppies in the tank but they can be moved into another tank if the discus will eat them. iv also read that they need daily water changes is this right even in a planted aquarium, my water conditions are always perfect.
thanks

Mine are in a 120cm l, 75cm h,46cm w, kept in reconditioned tap water, and i do water changes 1 a week.
It depends how you want to keep them, many people keep them in RO or HMA water, but you don't have to.
If you water conditions are good, and you make weekly water changes they will be fine, but make sure when you get your discus you ask what water they are kept in.
If you are thinking about just reconditioned tap water, you should ask if they would be alright in this water.
There are many breeders who sell discus here, if you want to have a look. http/www.aquarist-...index_cat49.php
Also i think i have read that discus can eat them, so i wouldn't risk it.

 

[kevinjames]

depends on what size discus you are looking at starting with, adult or juvies? water params arent as important now as they have been bred for generations in our water, just use a good dechlor like prime if you aint gonna use a hma or ro unit. also go to local suppliers as they will be using similar water to yours.

the main thing is to start with GOOD quality fish. i learned the hard way by buying sub-quality discus and nearly gave up all togeter. after getting better quality fish ive grew to love them more and more. are you in the uk?

also you may think your water quality is ok but after introducing discus this will be tested. they dont tolerate muck building up which is common in planted tanks. as for water changes the more the better but this depends on the size of the discus you plan on buying.

 

[Redfishmagazine]

I'd definitely seek some advice from discus experts, while they are hardier than wildcaught stock - there's still quite a few tricks to keeping them happy. Does your local area have a cichlid/discus club?

Rf.

 

[envious]

thanks for info.
yes im from the uk, iv seen some home bred fish for sale locally there kept in dechlorinated tap water with a ph of 6.5. iv been reading as much as possible but different sources seem to have different opinions. maybe have to have a rethink.

 

[kevinjames]

My advice would be to pick one source for them and don't mix as this would lead to problems with cross-contamination. Also what age/size are you thinking off? Young discus require feeding 4-5 times daily and daily water changes and in a planted tank this is difficult.

 

[kevinjames]

Also if your in the UK ull find that in most places the water is good and soft.

I'd also recommend chens discus as a supplier. That's were I source mine and they are good quality imo.

 

[snowflake311]

Ph is not an issue with domestic discus. The only time ph becomes a problem is when you are trying to breed wild caught fish. Even wild caught fish can adjust to different ph. My discus are in a ph of 7.6 ish and do fine the KH is about 6 drops. They spawn and are happy in this water. Making sure your ammonia nitrites and nitrates are all in check is way more important then ph.

What size tank is it?

 

[simonas]

Great choice of fish to keep by the way I love my nine and want a few more
I have to say they are not in my opinion difficult to keep however you can see the benefits of breeders set ups where they get super regular food and extremely regular water changes how well they grow
I keep mine in a planted 150g tank with cardinals and city's and plecs and love keeping them, they eat fine and regularly and I just do a fifty percent water change weekly growth isn't as good as I'd like but they look healthy happy and alert

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I agree with snowflake there, the ph isn't too much of an issue, mine were kept in 6.5 at the suppliers and I put them in 7.5 and just aclimated them slowly and never had a problem.