discus

[fishyjoe24]

i'm thinking about getting rid of my tinfoils and silver dollars. i want to do discus i read this info at http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?cur_lang=2&what=article&id=41:exactly:and found it quite useful is there anything else i should know. my ph stays at 6.8 and my temp is 78. the only thing is my water kh/hg stays hard how can i get it soft.

how hard is it to keep discus fish..:blahblah::cool:

[arnold]

I don't think its that hard, but you will get lots of different opines on that. A good place to get and ask about discus info.

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/

[fishyjoe24]

I don't think its that hard, but you will get lots of different opines on that. A good place to get and ask about discus info.

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/


thanks i read some of there stuff and useful.

[etc]

i'm thinking about getting rid of my tinfoils and silver dollars. i want to do discus i read this info at http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?cur_lang=2&what=article&id=41:exactly:and found it quite useful is there anything else i should know. my ph stays at 6.8 and my temp is 78. the only thing is my water kh/hg stays hard how can i get it soft.

how hard is it to keep discus fish..:blahblah::cool:

Do some major water changes with RO water, and your water will soften up. RO units really aren't TOO expensive, and you can even utilize it for drinking water too.

[biggin]

Just out curious does everyone ask what he PH of the RO when they buy it?

[fishyjoe24]

im not sure but that would be a good question to ask.

[ElijahTurtle]

The pH of RO water should be 7.0 on the money. If it's not then the RO membranes aren't pulling everything out of the water. Likely if your pH is 6.8 & your water is going to be fine. They will tolerate a variety of water parameters like most fish. I would not add discus to a tank that hasn't been well established though(3-6 months), unless your going to do a bare bottom tank. They are not fish that like changes though. If I could give the best advice about water for discus it would be two words clean & consistent.
IF you're going to invest in these fish though, considering the cost per fish, you might as well invest in a small RO unit too.

[biggin]

If you are buying RO ask what the PH is... and check it your self. As a betting man... I will be you find it hard to find 7 at a LFS....

[ElijahTurtle]

If you are buying RO ask what the PH is... and check it your self. As a betting man... I will be you find it hard to find 7 at a LFS....
Your probably right, alot of stores use Carbon filter devices to produce their "RO" reather than the micron filters. I used to help my friend Nico swap out the ones at POR in Waxahachie for free, I ususally got free supplies for the helping hand. Others just don't replace the RO membranes frequently enough. Still it's a fair bit better than tap if your dealing with small time apps.

[biggin]

it is better, I know one store keeps it around 5 and will buffer it up to what you want.... another keeps it around 8.... heck of a swing.... most seem to like to buffer it to what you want.

[arnold]

I'm not an ro fan personally, if I'm going to adjust ph and softness i prefer using peat and almond leaves. I can take a 100 gallon down from 7.5 to around 5 with peat alone and that is my preferred method. no trace crap or buffering agents to add, it takes a little experience to get to where you can do that but if you have a pre treat tank for your water changes it is easier. The only time i adjust watter parms for discus are if I'm trying to breed them, they aren't that picky if you aren't breeding them, best thing I have heard so far, "clean and consistent" and most folks who do discus change water a lot more than the norm. If your tank is very well established water changes are not as critical but you will see the difference if you do them. I have kept 20 full grown discus in a well run 100 gallon by doing 3 75% water changes a week with no problems for 2 yrs straight till i moved on and sold them.

[fishyjoe24]

my tank hasn't been set up long only 2 1/2 months now but i did use turbo start on it, and it has a gravel bottom.. the ph is 6.8 and the hard is about 250.

[arnold]

I would buy two young fish and see how they do, your tank should be fine. temp should be over 80. You can add more fish as you go, qt or not depending on your ability to deal with any imported health issues you may encounter.

Tank mate should be considered before not after.

[fishyjoe24]

thanks i first have to get rid of my tinfoils,silver dollars and what bottom feeders too?
i have clown loachs,pictus catfish,syndontis catfish,clown pleco,and peppermint and albino cory catfish. what can go with discus.