Who Gives A Fish Forums

Noticed my Discus keep swimming against the glass like they're tryna break out. Tank's a 75-gallon, temp at 84F, pH 6.8, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Got driftwood and some Java ferns, sand substrate. They're about 4 months old, eating beef heart mix twice a day. Anyone else seen this weird ...

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gonna test RO and peat separately in my smaller tanks first. My main tank's pH is 7.0, temp 85°F, fish are about 18 months old. Appreciate the help!


Smart move testing first. Your pH is a tad high, try adding some driftwood or almond leaves to nudge it down. My ...

Peat can work but it's messy and might tint your water. RO is cleaner but you'll need to remineralize. I use a mix of 75% RO and 25% tap in my 120 gallon, with Seachem Equilibrium to hit 4 dGH. My Discus spawn every 3 weeks now. What's your pH? They prefer it under 6.5 for breeding.

Yep, canisters are a no-go for fry, even on low. Sponge is the way. Also, what's your substrate? Bare bottom is easier to keep clean. And how old are the parents? Weak genetics can play a role.


Spot on about the substrate. Bare bottom is a game-changer. And yeah, older parents can pass on ...

Sounds like your water params are solid, but fry are super sensitive. How's the lighting? Too much stress can mess with them. Also, what's your filtration? Sponge filters are best for fry, less current.

Thanks for the input, everyone. Leaning toward sand now, probably the CaribSea Super Naturals. Gonna pair it with more plants and see how it goes.

I'm setting up a new 75-gallon tank for my Discus and can't decide on substrate. Sand seems clean but might lack nutrients, while gravel's easier to clean but traps debris. What's your experience with either? My tank's got a Fluval 407, temp at 84°F, and I do 30% water changes twice a week. Plants ...

Yo, RO water's a solid choice, but you gotta watch the TDS. I keep mine around 150 ppm for juvies. For cycling, throw in some FritzZyme or Stability to speed it up. Test daily for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates. Once it's stable, start with 50% water changes every other day. They're messy eaters, so ...

Setting up a new tank for my Discus and wanna get the water prep right. I've got a 75 gallon with a Fluval 407, sand substrate, and some driftwood. Planning to use RO water with a remineralizer. What's the best way to cycle it before adding them? Also, how often should I do water changes once they ...