Who Gives A Fish Forums

Don't forget to cycle the new media slowly. Toss it in a mesh bag next to your old ceramic for a few weeks. I learned the hard way when I swapped all at once in my 80 gallon. Discus got super stressed, nitrites spiked. Temp's 85F, weekly 30% changes now. All good after a month though.

I've had great results with a combination of a gravel vacuum and a algae scraper. My discus are in a 100 gallon with CO2 injection, so algae is a constant battle. The key is consistency and not letting it build up too much.

Sketchy to push past 30 ppm, imo. My dude's tank hit 50 once, and they got real lethargic. Backed it down to 20 with more plants, and they perked up. Java fern FTW.


Same here! Added a bunch of anubias and cranked the bubbles. Nitrates dropped, and the fish are way more active. Also, cut feeding ...

Yeah, stress is a big one. Also check your water changes. If you're slacking, the TDS might be creeping up. I do 50% changes twice a week with RO water, keeps 'em happy. What's your WC routine?


I agree with luxe! Water changes are key. My discus perked up when I switched to RO. How often do you ...

Agreed on the river rocks. They're usually safe, but testing is smart. My Oscars are picky, so I always double check everything before it goes in the tank.

First off, check their eyes. Cloudy or sunken eyes are a no-go. They should be bright and clear. Also, watch how they swim—healthy Discus are active but not frantic. If they're hiding in a corner or gasping at the surface, that's sketchy. My 75-gallon has driftwood and Java ferns, and I keep the ...

I'd play it safe and grab some white vinegar. It's cheap and reliable. Your Angelfish will thank you. My tank's got driftwood and slate, and I always test with white vinegar just to be sure.

I'm gonna grab my first Discus this weekend, but I'm kinda nervous about picking healthy ones. What should I look for at the store? My tank's a 55-gallon with sand substrate, planted with Amazon swords, and I've got a Fluval canister filter running. Water's at 84°F, pH 6.8, and I do 30% water ...

"Same with corals, right - a pretty coral by any other name would still thrive."

Thanks so much for all the helpful replies - I'm really grateful for this forum and the lovely community here. I've not had a chance to participate much yet, but every time I do, I'm blown away by how friendly and knowledgeable everyone is.

I really appreciate all the advice, especially about not ...