discus fry tank water changes

[silence]

My discus fry aren't growing as fast as I expected. I've been doing 50% water changes every other day in a 20 gallon tank, temp at 84F, sponge filter, and feeding them beef heart mix 4 times a day. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate around 10ppm. Am I missing something?

[mole]

Sounds like you're on the right track with the water changes and feeding. How old are the fry? If they're under 2 weeks, growth can be slow until they hit that 1 inch mark. Also, what's your water hardness? Discus fry do better in softer water, like under 100ppm TDS. If your tap is hard, might wanna cut it with RO.

[mrFluffy]

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.

[3monkeys]

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 huge. I'd also bump the water changes to daily if possible. At this stage, they're super sensitive to waste buildup. What's your substrate? Bare bottom is easiest for fry tanks, but if you've got sand, vacuum it gently during changes.

[Boldy]

Yep, gotta agree with the daily changes. I do 80% daily in my fry tank, and they're growing like weeds. Also, what's your lighting schedule? Too much light can stress 'em out. I keep mine on for 6 hours max. And yeah, brine shrimp is a game changer. They're like candy for discus.

[silence]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Fry are about 3 weeks old, and my tap is pretty hard, around 200ppm. I'll grab an RO unit this weekend. Heater's steady, but I'll double check with a second thermometer. Substrate is bare bottom, and lights are on for 8 hours. Gonna cut that back too.

[mole]

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.

[3monkeys]

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.

Seconding the drip advice. I use a 1 gallon per hour drip rate for my fry tanks. And yeah, Prime's the way to go. If you're not already, age your water for 24 hours before changes. Lets the temp and pH stabilize. How's the flow in your tank? Too much current can tire out small fry.

[Boldy]

Aging water is clutch. I keep a 30 gallon brute can with a heater and air stone for my change water. Flow-wise, sponge filters are perfect, but if you've got a HOB, baffle it with some filter floss. Oh, and don't forget to check your beef heart mix. If it's too chunky, the tiny fry might not be getting enough.

[mrFluffy]

Man, I never thought about aging water. Gonna try that. Also, if you're blending your own beef heart, add a little garlic guard. Makes it smell less gross and supposedly boosts appetite. My fry tank's got a weird vibe if I don't rinse the blender right after, though. Worth it for the growth spurts.