DISCUS PLANTED TANK HOW TO

So how can you keep discus in a new tank that is not yet mature The best thing is to first set up your new aquarium, and get it running. Discus will simply not tolerate Ammonia it burns the gills and drives them crazy just as a whole summer long every single day of big brother does to me. I have said this many times in my shop to many discus customers. The biggest tip here is not just perfect water, but mature filters to produce perfect water. As many hobbyists will know, the biggest success of keeping discus is keeping perfect water for them. Even then, even the most seasoned of discus keepers can experience problems if everything is not right, and it all comes back to one thing!! WATER. But this is not the best way to start off with keeping discus unless you know the fish and what you are doing. The discus has to be placed in the tank and look good as soon as possible. When I attend discus shows, and some of these are all over the world, there is no time to mature the filter.

But what if your new discus tank has never been used, and has yet to be set up How do you make it discus proof and mature Well this can be done many ways, and it is possible (not ideal) to place discus in a tank a few hours old.

This way the tank will be mature, and discus could be added once a good water change has been performed, and the water checked that it is indeed correct to keep discus in. Very often I get a call from someone who wants to know if the fish they have, can be kept, or do they need to get rid of them. So the best thing to do is to look and go through all the fish they have, because some may be all right to keep with the new discus. Then seen discus in their local tropical fish show rooms, or seen pictures of them somewhere and fancied upgrading to something more exotic. Most new discus keepers are hobbyist that has started off with normal community fish. With dealers telling you that you need to take your time and mature your tank, will be said with good reason. Moving into the discus hobby is an exciting time.

DISCUS PLANTED TANK HOW TO

How To Set Up And Mature A New Discus Tank The fish are also prone to internal and external parasite infections such as gill flukes.After reading this article you should be able to complete a new Discus tank set-up. Diseaseĭiscus fish are most vulnerable to common warm-water bacterial infections such as cotton wool and hole-in-the-head disease. A newly added fish that lies on its side is not ill or dying - this is a normal reaction to the change in water pressure between the container and the aquarium, and the fish will soon acclimatize.Ĭhange 10% to 25% of the discus fish tank water weekly to maintain good water quality. In larger tanks, powerheads (submersible pumps) are preferredĭiscus fish bought online can be added directly to a prepared tank. Water type: Soft, freshwater Tank size: Minimum 60 gallons (10 gallons per discus fish) Water temperature: 82–88☏ (28–31☌) Substrate: Sand, pebbles, rocks Tank setup: Plants, caves, driftwood Acidity: 6.0–7.0 pH Water hardness: 6–14 dGH Filter: Yes, discus fish produce a large amount of waste and stir up the substrate, so a sturdy filter is essential Plants: Yes, to circulate the water in the aquarium and ensure an adequate oxygen supply. The fish congregate close to fallen trees and branches near river banks in the wild, so in captivity, discus prefer stable environments. The discus fish inhabits the slow-moving rivers and lakes of the lowland Amazon basin. Captive discus fish have more vibrant colors when water parameters are well-maintained, even though the fish adapt better than wild species to water fluctuations.ĭecorate the discus fish’s tank with driftwood to replicate the fallen trees in branches found in the species’ native habitat.Īdvertisements Habitat and Tank Requirements

This species is challenging to keep in a mixed-species tank due to the discus fish’s low pH, high mineral content, and warm temperature needs.

The blue discus is native to the eastern Amazon basin, the green discus is native to the western Amazon basin, and the red discus is native to the Rio Negro area. The discus fish is native to the Amazon river in South America. Patterned hybrids exist in captivity Diet: Omnivore Temperament: Intelligent, peaceful, shy Minimum tank size: 10 gallons per fish, or over 55 gallons for a group of six fish Temperature: 82–88☏ (28–31☌) pH: 6.0–7.0 Hardness: Soft water, 2–8 dGH Care level: Challenging, requires a higher temperature than many other species Breeding: Mouthbrooders Origin tarzoo (green discus) Common names Discus fish, pompadour fish, king of the aquarium Distribution: Amazon river basin, South America Size: 4.6–8 inches Life expectancy: 10–15 years in captivity Color: Wild discus fish are red, blue, or green, and other colors. Advertisements Scientific name: Symphysodon aequifasciatus (blue discus or brown discus), S.

Discus planted tank