Question on discus

[Italian_Stallion]

i wud like to have a discus tank in the near future. i was just wondering if u need RO water or can u jst use dechlorinated tap water ? i live in sydney if that helps...

thanks

[Richard]

Hey mate;

Having a Reverse Osmosis system is not neccesary for keeping discus, just make sure that your water is conditioned and at a neutral pH. If you find it hard to neutralise sydneys tap water (around 7's) then just put some peat in your fiulter system and that should lower the pH of your tank yet it does give the water abit of a brown colour similar to the effect of driftwood.

HTH

Richard

[Ant]

Just some info i gave in a previous thread:

Just a couple of begginer guidelines:

- If i can give any advice it would be use the KIS principal (Keep it simple).

- Don't stress about PH too much, they will be fine in 7-7.2 ph.

- They will be fine with weekly 30-40% water changes.

- Clean water will still be achieved through the water changes i recommended rather than large water changed every couple of days as 'more experienced' discus keepers do.

- As a begginer you don't want to have a ph that is too low and you don't want to do too many water changes because you can easily crash your system.

- A good trick to learn as a begginer (at discus) is worming your discus (look in faq for info on worming).

- I think the main trick is keeping water parameters stable (i.e use a very small amount of buffer if you need)

- Have a higher temp than normal (29-30) and use 1gm of salt per lr in your aquarium to 'help' reduce chances of getting diseases such as white spot or velvet.

- I'm sure you have heard about a disease called discus disease. This disease name is just a generic name given for sick discus where the owner can't figure out the disease, majority of the time this 'discus disease' is worms or white spot (IMHO).

- Discus are tougher than people think and often when sick will hold off until the bitter end.

I am not a guru but have learnt from a guru (if you know what i mean). I have had some experience with discus myself and have given this advise to other begginers at discus before with good feedback (worked at LFS). If you have any questions about what i've said then feel free to post.

What i've discussed is contradictory to what a lot of experienced breeders do. Just remember in the context of the begginer it is a must to KIS. Experienced keepers are experienced and know how to manage their systems without them crashing. This is not easy with low hardness levels and low PH.

Anthony

[Italian_Stallion]

thanks heaps you have given me some great advice and answered a lot of my questions already. there are a few more questions though.

1) i have heard that discus dont like a lot of water movement. is this true ?

2) i am planing to start a 4ft tank within the next few months. i have heard that juvenile discus like to be ket in groups. how many should i put in a 4 ft tank ? and i am planning to have the tank planted.

i am not i newb at keeping tropical fish. i currently have 3 fish tanks running at the moment but i am a newb at keeping discus so all advice is appreciated.

thanks

[Ant]

1) i have heard that discus dont like a lot of water movement. is this true ?

1) Discus don't mind water movement, filtration/turnover of about 4-6 times an hour would be sufficient.

2) i am planing to start a 4ft tank within the next few months. i have heard that juvenile discus like to be ket in groups. how many should i put in a 4 ft tank ? and i am planning to have the tank planted.

2) You are right, they hate to be kept on their own. With a 4ft tank I'd say maybe 5 adult discus, possibly 6 depending on water changes etc. Minimum number kept together should be 4 in my opinion (unless breeding of course). The reason being is that if you keep three discuss one will always be bullied, four is a better number.

am not i newb at keeping tropical fish. i currently have 3 fish tanks running at the moment but i am a newb at keeping discus blush.gif so all advice is appreciated.

No problems, I totally understand. Keeping discus adds a whole new dimension to fish keeping. The age old rule still applies though "you don't keep fish, you keep water".