discus tank water change myths

[Dodge]

Heard a lot of wild stuff about water changes for Discus, like you gotta do 90% daily or they'll croak. My crew's in a 75g with sand, driftwood, and a Fluval FX6. Been doing 50% weekly, params stable at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. They're chillin', but am I missing something?

[blueguy]

Nah, you're good. The 90% daily thing is overkill unless you're breeding or have a tiny tank. I've kept Discus for years in a 120g with pool filter sand, Eheim 600, and RO water. 30% twice a week keeps nitrates under 20. Key is consistency, not extremes.

[Misty]

Nah, you're good. The 90% daily thing is overkill unless you're breeding or have a tiny tank. I've kept Discus for years in a 120g with pool filter sand, Eheim 600, and RO water. 30% twice a week keeps nitrates under 20. Key is consistency, not extremes.

Exactly this. My 100g with Discus and Cardinals gets 40% weekly, Seachem Prime, and a Tidal 110. Nitrates never spike above 15. People stress over frequency, but stability's what matters.

[Purrer]

Yo, my LFS told me Discus need distilled water or they'll freak. That sound sketchy? I'm using tap with Prime in a 55g, sponge filter, and they're vibing. But now I'm second-guessing.

[Luxury]

Distilled's unnecessary unless your tap's garbage. Test your KH and GH—Discus like soft water, but they adapt. My tap's 8dGH, 4dKH, and I buffer with peat in the canister. 60g, AquaClear 110, weekly 35% changes. Zero issues for 3 years.

[gleek2]

What's the deal with aging water? I've got a 40g with Discus and Rams, no room for storage barrels. Can I just temp-match and dechlorinate straight from the tap?

[Dodge]

Thanks, all. Gonna stick with my routine but maybe bump to 40% if nitrates creep up. Appreciate the sanity check.

[Silva]

What's the deal with aging water? I've got a 40g with Discus and Rams, no room for storage barrels. Can I just temp-match and dechlorinate straight from the tap?

Aging's mostly for chlorine gas-off, but Prime handles that. I direct-fill my 75g with a Python, mix hot/cold to 84°F, dose Prime as it fills. Discus and Angels don't care. Just don't blast 'em with ice-cold streams.

[Boldly]

My buddy swears by 'no water changes, just plants.' His 90g's a jungle with Discus, but nitrates sit at 40+. Sketchy or nah?

[Kairos]

40's pushing it. Plants help, but they ain't magic. My heavily planted 80g still needs 25% weekly to keep nitrates at 10. Discus start sulking over 20 in my experience.