discus tank water change myths

[Skyline]

Heard a lot of wild stuff about water changes for Discus, like you gotta do 50% daily or they'll croak. That true? My tank's 75 gallons, planted, with 6 Discus around 4 inches, sand substrate, sponge filter, and a Fluval heater. Been doing 30% weekly, but now I'm second-guessing.

[turret]

Nah, that's overkill unless you're breeding or have a tiny tank. I've kept Discus for years in a 120-gallon with driftwood and Java ferns, doing 25% weekly. Key is consistency, not frequency. Test your water—ammonia and nitrite zero, nitrate under 20 ppm, and you're golden.

[nicey]

Nah, that's overkill unless you're breeding or have a tiny tank. I've kept Discus for years in a 120-gallon with driftwood and Java ferns, doing 25% weekly. Key is consistency, not frequency. Test your water—ammonia and nitrite zero, nitrate under 20 ppm, and you're golden.

Yep, same here! My 55-gallon has 5 Discus, and I do 20% weekly with Prime conditioner. They're chill, colors popping. Overdoing it just stresses them out, imo.

[angelic]

The myth stems from wild-caught Discus needing pristine water. Captive-bred are hardier. My 90-gallon with RO water and CaribSea substrate gets 30% biweekly, and they're thriving. Focus on stable temp (84°F), quality food, and avoid overcrowding. Daily changes are for fry or hospital tanks.

[Lyn]

My LFS swore by daily changes, but my wallet said nope. Got a 65-gallon with 4 Discus, canister filter, and pool filter sand. Been doing 40% every 10 days, and they're fine. Weird how much conflicting advice is out there.

[butteredBiscuit]

My LFS swore by daily changes, but my wallet said nope. Got a 65-gallon with 4 Discus, canister filter, and pool filter sand. Been doing 40% every 10 days, and they're fine. Weird how much conflicting advice is out there.

Right? It's like everyone's got a magic formula. I do 25% weekly in my 75-gallon with driftwood and Anubias, and my guys are growing like weeds. Just match your routine to your tank's bio-load.

[Cody]

Honestly, I was scared to start with Discus 'cause of the water-change hype. Got a 55-gallon, 3 Discus, and a HOB filter. Doing 20% weekly with Seachem Safe, and they're happy as clams. Don't overthink it—just keep the water clean and stable.

[sealine]

The daily-change thing is sketchy unless you're running a bare-bottom fry tank. My 100-gallon with eco-complete and a sump gets 30% weekly, and the Discus are breeding. Key is matching changes to your feeding schedule—heavy feeding means more waste, so adjust accordingly.

[Skyline]

Thanks, all! Gonna stick with my 30% weekly and stop stressing. Appreciate the real-world advice.

[turret]

Thanks, all! Gonna stick with my 30% weekly and stop stressing. Appreciate the real-world advice.

Smart move. Obsessing over water changes is worse than just sticking to a solid routine. Your tank sounds well-setup—just watch those nitrates and you're good.