Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'd lower it slowly, like 1°F per day. Sudden drops freak 'em out. Your plants might struggle too if it's too warm. What kind of substrate are you using? Some hold heat weirdly.


Good point. Sand can trap heat, especially if it's deep. How's your lighting schedule? Longer photoperiods + high ...

Agree with the lighting comments. Also, what's your feeding routine? If they're not coming out for food, that's a red flag. Try feeding at the same times daily to build a routine. And double-check your heater's not flickering temps—even small swings can spook 'em.

Yo, don't sleep on Purigen. It's killer for polishing water. I run it in a mesh bag in my FX4, alongside sponges and ceramic. Tank's a 55 gallon with 5 Discus, driftwood, and Java fern. Nitrates never spike above 15 ppm, even if I slack on water changes. Just recharge it with bleach every few months.

I've noticed my discus are less aggressive when I feed them after a water change. Maybe it's the fresh water? My tank is 50 gallons, 5 discus, and I use a HOB filter. Temp at 85F, water changes every 4 days. I also dim the lights during feeding.

If you're gonna ghost-feed, use a pinch of flake every other day. Overdid it once and my nitrates spiked to 50. Had to do a 50% water change. Not fun. What salt mix you running?

I've used dry rock in my 40-gallon and it took forever to cycle, like 8 weeks. But no pests, which was a plus. My Zoanthids finally started spreading after 3 months. Live rock might've sped things up, but I didn't wanna risk hitchhikers.


Yep, dry rock's a slow burn. I dumped in some bottled ...

Agreed on quarantine. Also, avoid anything that nips, like Serpae Tetras. They might seem fine at first, but they can get sketchy. Stick to the chill ones like Corydoras for the bottom. My Sterbai Corys are great with the Discus.


Totally. Corys are a no-brainer. They're active but peaceful, and ...

SeaAqua wrote: ↑Fri Apr 25, 2025 10:10 pm Thanks for the suggestions. Gonna check out both Cardinals and Rummies. My LFS has both, so I'll see which group looks healthier.

Yep, health is key. I'd quarantine any new fish for a couple weeks, just to be safe. My last batch of Cardinals had no issues, but better safe than sorry.

I've had good luck with Cardinal Tetras. They're small, colorful, and don't bother the Discus. My tank's similar, 80 gallons, planted with Java Fern and Anubias. Cardinals stick to the middle, while the Discus hang near the bottom. Just make sure you get a school of at least 10 to keep 'em happy.

I've had pairs spawn on a bare bottom, but some prefer a flat surface like a cone or slate. You might wanna toss one in and see if they take to it. What's your plan for raising the fry if they spawn?