Discus questions

[Dawna]

Hi Everyone
   I am new to ovas and have alot of questions so please be patient with me. What I am trying to do it get it ready for discus.I have a 50 gal. tank that I have put up and started running on sept.27. On oct. 6 I put in my tank 6 bleeding heart tetras and they gave me 2 neons, as well I have a piece of driftwood. I have tested before and after I put fish in for ammonia 0, nitrites 0, and put in chlorine remover. I live in Calgary, Ab. I heard we have good water for discus but I would like to know for sure, and I have a fluval 304. Now that is done ready for my questions?

Do I need to soften the water? If so how?

What is the proper temp for discis, do I slowly higher the temp before I put the discus in so the other fish get use to it?

How many could I have in my tank?

What other kinds of fish should I get next to put in? and when can I put them in?

When could I put discus in?

I had more questions but I can't remember at the moment. I know your thinking this woman is not going to leave us alone.
I fell in love with these fish and really want to raise them any help would be great.  Thank-you    Dawna

[luvfishies]

Hi Everyone
   I am new to ovas and have alot of questions so please be patient with me. What I am trying to do it get it ready for discus.I have a 50 gal. tank that I have put up and started running on sept.27. On oct. 6 I put in my tank 6 bleeding heart tetras and they gave me 2 neons, as well I have a piece of driftwood. I have tested before and after I put fish in for ammonia 0, nitrites 0, and put in chlorine remover. I live in Calgary, Ab. I heard we have good water for discus but I would like to know for sure, and I have a fluval 304. Now that is done ready for my questions?

Do I need to soften the water? If so how?

What is the proper temp for discis, do I slowly higher the temp before I put the discus in so the other fish get use to it?

How many could I have in my tank?

What other kinds of fish should I get next to put in? and when can I put them in?

When could I put discus in?

I had more questions but I can't remember at the moment. I know your thinking this woman is not going to leave us alone.
I fell in love with these fish and really want to raise them any help would be great.  Thank-you    Dawna

Hi Dawna and welcome to OVAS!

OK. We need to know just how hard or soft your water is already before suggesting softening it. IME, juvie discus don't really care about soft water OR low pH, so that's not an issue right now.

I would put the discus in LAST, as they don't do well with any ammonia or nitrite at all, and in a new tank, you're bound to get some ammonia and nitrite.

May I ask, is this your first tank? If not, how long have you been keeping fish? Do you know about the "cycle"?

Discus really like warm water, about 85-86*F! I would set the tank to that right now, so the beneficial bacteria are used to that temp, as well as the cycling fish you're using. Too bad you're using fish to "age" this tank. Household ammonia would have been far preferable, as you can grow a massive biobug colony, and fully stock the tank right after the cycle is done.

It's recced to have no more than 1 discus per 10g of tankwater. These are large fish, they do like to move around, and they appreciate the space.

You're also going to have to get in the habit of changing about 1/3 of the water every couple of days, as discus LOVE to eat, and they poop lots. Lots of food, lots of waterchanges, is *the* way to get them grown out well. pH and Hardness isn't as important as lots of variety in lots of food, and tonnes of waterchanges.

Do you have test kits for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? Hardness is measured with KH and GH kits, so you'd want them as well. Of course, pH is a good one to have, always.

Congrats on falling for discus! They are magnificent, but they are more work than the usual tropicals, and definately not for a New Aquarist.

[slickshooter]

Although I know nothing of discus i'm sure MOST of us don't think you are nuts  :wink:
You are definetly aproaching this the right way by getting information first although getting those other fish and not knowing compatibility was unwise in my opinion.This board is a little slow at times but I'm sure someone will be along to help.
good luck

[pegasus]

Hi Dawna,

luvfishies's advice is by the book and surely the one to fallow. Where I disagree with most aquarist and discus enthusiast is mostly on their over statement of the difficulty of keeping this specie. Breeding them is another story. First, look and read about their temperament. At the store, you should notice that they rarely visit the front of the aquarium to greet you. To me, this is a fish that dies not because of the water not being to his liking, but strangely, more because of unhappiness and heart attack.

My most recent experience was a year ago I took two shy specimens from an OVAS member. They were always hiding at the back of the aquarium and were missing out at feeding time. I set them up in a 20gal tank and most importantly place the tank where I would not startle the fish. I would drop the food than watch at a distance. It took a month to see these fish in perfect physical and mental shape. :lol:

30 years ago, a few of us at OVAS, went to see a Discus breeder in Montreal. He had a room heated at 82 degree. We each bought a dozen (quarter size) from him. Mine were set up in a bare 40 gal tank with only one air stone and water at 76-80 degree and no filtration of any kind.  :!: 8 months later, I could hardly see the fish (I would just add water, never did water change) but by this time I had found two pair in the tank. I put one pair in a 55 gal with a pair of angel fish and they shortly started breeding. This tank had an underground filtration and again, never did a water change or water test.----- And my friends!  you ask? They lost them all in the first 3 months.. I believe they all went by the book, and maybe even more. They never understood its temperament. Discus, in general, don't like radical changes, can defend himself but prefer a peaceful environment and can't stand to be startled.

So I'm saying they are not so difficult, but please, do your water change more often and in smaller quantity and try not to disturb them to much in doing so. Not keeping them in their ideal PH , hardness or temperature, will not kill them unless its to extremes, but the closer you get to their requirements the better it is, specially for their breeding.

Enjoy them
Michel

[Dawna]

I would like to say thank-you all for the info. I did not expect much of a reply, I know  what forum I will stay on now.
I will take all the advice and read it more carefully, I bought the bleeding heart because I was told they could go in with discus and have seen them in the same tank. I did have  20 gal. tank about 15 yrs ago. But did not learn alot about ph. nitrates, etc. they did well when I moved I sold tank and all.
I am planning on getting juvies I think it might be easier on them and me.  I am going to test the water for softness today.
I hope I answered all questions.that were asked. Thank again.Any more advice would still be nice.     Dawna

[luvfishies]

Dawna, no prob! I love my discus, and they aren't shy at all. In fact, they're piggies of the first order, and race to greet me "just in case" I have goodies for them!

They *are* more work though, as they really do like their water nice and clean, with very little nitrates (the end product of the Cycle). It's really gratifying to get juvies and watch them grow like weeds, and get to know you in the process. Don't treat them like fine china, just be consistent with them.

[aidensmomma2000]

Just a note- my juvies were really shy, and then I cranked the heat lol. They seem to like warmer temps then the adults, but only by a few degrees.