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What's the ideal water hardness for breeding Discus? My tank's at 6 dGH, pH 6.5, 84°F, but they ain't spawning. Got a 55-gallon with sand substrate, sponge filter, and driftwood. Feed 'em beef heart mix twice daily, water changes every other day. Tankmates are just a few tetras. Something off?

Your params sound close, but Discus can be picky. I've bred them successfully at 5 dGH, pH 6.2, 86°F. Try bumping the temp a bit and see if they respond. Also, how old are they? Juveniles under 12 months rarely spawn. My pair took 18 months to start. What's your water change routine? Daily 10% changes can help trigger spawning behavior.

Hawk wrote: ↑Sun Aug 10, 2025 8:13 pm What's the ideal water hardness for breeding Discus? My tank's at 6 dGH, pH 6.5, 84°F, but they ain't spawning. Got a 55-gallon with sand substrate, sponge filter, and driftwood. Feed 'em beef heart mix twice daily, water changes every other day. Tankmates are just a few tetras. Something off?

Hardness is fine, but temp's a tad low. Aim for 86–88°F for breeding. Also, check TDS—keep it under 100 ppm. My breeding pair won't spawn if TDS creeps above 120. RO water helps. What's your lighting schedule? 10–12 hours of dim light works best for mine.

Agree with Dream on temp. Mine spawned at 87°F, 4 dGH. Tank's bare-bottom with a cone, 75 gallons. Key was upping live food—blackworms and brine shrimp. How often do you test hardness? Fluctuations can stress them. I use a digital meter weekly. Also, what's your nitrate level? Keep it under 5 ppm for breeding.

Thanks for the tips, y'all. Gonna crank the heater to 87°F and grab an RO unit. Nitrates are at 10 ppm, so I'll step up water changes. Lights are on 8 hours—I'll extend that. They're about 14 months old, so age shouldn't be the issue. Appreciate it!

Sounds like you're on the right track. My pair didn't spawn until I added peat moss to the filter. Softens water naturally and adds tannins—they love it. Also, try covering the tank sides with paper. Privacy seems to help mine feel secure. How's their behavior? Any lip-locking or cleaning surfaces?

Yo, Hawk, my Discus were the same till I cut the tetras. Even peaceful ones can mess with the vibe. Moved 'em to another tank, and bam—spawning in a week. Also, what's your water change temp? Match it to the tank or they'll freak. I use a Python with a temp gauge.

sealine wrote: ↑Mon Aug 11, 2025 12:36 am Agree with Dream on temp. Mine spawned at 87°F, 4 dGH. Tank's bare-bottom with a cone, 75 gallons. Key was upping live food—blackworms and brine shrimp. How often do you test hardness? Fluctuations can stress them. I use a digital meter weekly. Also, what's your nitrate level? Keep it under 5 ppm for breeding.

Bare-bottom's key for breeding. Easier to clean and they won't eat eggs off sand. Hawk, you got a cone? Terra cotta or slate works. Mine laid eggs on a $5 flowerpot from Walmart. Worth a shot!

Man, Discus are divas. My water's softer than a kitten's purr, and they still won't spawn. Tried everything—RO, blackworms, dim lights. Finally got 'em going by playing nature sounds near the tank. No joke. Maybe yours need a weird vibe too. Worth a laugh if nothing else!

Never thought about sound, Boldly. Mine spawned after I moved their tank to a quieter room. Less foot traffic seemed to help. Hawk, how's your flow? Sponge filter's good, but maybe add a gentle powerhead. Mine like a bit of current to swim against. Also, what's your feeding schedule? Consistency matters.