Who Gives A Fish Forums

Sounds like your driftwood might be messing with the pH. I'd cut it out for a bit and see if things stabilize. For buffers, I've had good luck with Seachem Discus Buffer. It's designed for soft water and won't spike your TDS. What's your KH right now? If it's below 3, you're gonna need to bump it up ...

200ppm is definitely on the high side. RO will help a ton. Also, if you're mixing tap with RO, aim for a slow drip acclimation when you do changes. Sudden shifts in hardness can freak 'em out. What water conditioner are you using? Prime's good for binding any nasties during big changes ...

I had the same issue last month. Turns out my heater was sketchy, temps were swinging between 82 and 86. Got a new one and they perked up. Maybe check your heater's consistency? Also, beef heart is great, but try adding some brine shrimp for variety. Mine went nuts for it.


Temp stability is ...

Don't forget to check the PAR values if you're serious about breeding. Too much light can bleach plants and stress fish. I use a PAR meter to keep it around 30–50 µmol at the substrate. Also, avoid sudden changes—ramp up or down over a few days. My Discus freak out if the light's too bright ...

Agree with wade on the shorter photoperiod. I've found that Discus prefer subdued lighting during breeding. My setup's similar, 75-gallon, driftwood, and Anubias. I use a programmable LED with a sunrise/sunset feature to mimic natural conditions. Eggs hatch way better now. What's your water change ...

oceanode wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 4:47 am My guy flares at his reflection a lot. Is that normal or should I block the sides of the tank?

Flaring's normal behavior, but constant stress isn't. Try dimming the lights or adding background paper to reduce reflections. If he's constantly agitated, it's worth addressing.

You're off to a solid start with the tank size and equipment. For water changes, aim for 25% weekly, using a gravel vacuum to clean the substrate. Test your water regularly for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Feed high-quality pellets, 2-3 a day, and skip the flakes. Overfeeding is a common mistake.

Lionheart wrote: ↑Sat May 03, 2025 8:44 pm Agree with the coral advice. Also, avoid overfeeding while they recover. Excess food can lower pH further.

Spot on. And if you're using peat or almond leaves, pull 'em out for now. They're great but not during a crash.

First, test your KH. If it's below 2, that's the culprit. Add crushed coral in a media bag to your filter to stabilize it. Also, check your CO2 levels if you're running injected. How often do you water change?

RO water's a scam unless you're trying to breed show-quality fish. Your setup sounds solid, mate. Maybe bump up feeding? My crew gets six small meals a day. Also, what's your stock like? Overcrowding can mess with growth rates. I keep six in a 90-gallon with cardinal tetras and rams.


Exactly ...