An introduction to Discus: Part I

jabberwocky · 10-26-2004, 02:42 PM

thank u for responding Cichlid-Man i
am also in mirc chat in aquaria if anyone wants to talk fish or otherwise

BarbN · 03-16-2005, 10:12 AM

Cichlid-Man · 03-16-2005, 10:21 AM

Hey barb, good to see you around here. I've always liked seeing your discus over at Simply (where i lurk under the title Discus-n00b)) you sure do have some beauties!

BarbN · 03-18-2005, 10:41 AM

Hi Matt, thanks

Jabberwocky... how are your discus doing?

Barb

fishboy · 03-21-2005, 10:29 PM

Very nice fish.

Daniel

Cichlid-Man · 03-21-2005, 11:12 PM

Oh so now he pops his head in

Love the Greens and WBs barb.

BarbN · 03-27-2005, 08:56 PM

Thank you

Barb

THUNDER · 08-02-2006, 06:12 AM

FishBoy, you make it seem like taking care of any Discus fishies would be a major engery drain on all of us. Every day water change? Are you serious?! Could they be happy with weekly change with excessive filters? Lets just say that I get one of Emperor 400, will that be enough for weekly water change? How about two of Emperor 400, will that be enough for weekly water change or every two weeks? How about I add the UGF with thin gravels? Seriously, a bare tank is ugly. If they must have a bare tank, can they accept under 2 inch of gravel? What kinda gravel? Do they need real plants or will accept fake plants? Do they prefer driftwoods or rocks or just plants? Are you saying to have two heaters working at once, settings to be at 85? If the temperature is going to be that high, then UGF is a must to increase oxygen in the water. You say that it is best to get an adult Discus. How do I know which is an adult? How fast do they grow to become an adult? Most importantly, do they attack humans? Do they have teeth?

Thunder

Luca · 08-02-2006, 07:11 AM

Hi Thunder lol no they won't bite you, they're not as territorial as some other bigger cichlids.

It's a good idea to have two heaters, but not necessary, personally I don't do it and haven't had any problems *touchwood*.

Discus reach adult hood at 18 months, they continue to colour up until then which is awesome, so fun to grow them out from young, which means yes a barebottom (BB) tank and daily, twice daily, every second day water changes, the more the better. You don't "have" to, but they grow much better and don't get stunted if you do. A stunted discus is one with a big eye, it's out of proportion and doesn't look as good as one with a small eye. Overfiltration isn't as good as daily water changes, because filters alone do not remove nitrate. Nitrate (basically fish waste) is believed to be growth inhibiting (hence the need for daily water changes to remove nitrate).

Real plants are best because they help remove bad toxins from the water, like ammonia and nitrate. Discus prefer more driftwood than rocks or plants, because this resembles their natural habitat more realistically. The odd rock is found in the wild however.

A BB tank doesn't look as nice as a planted, but I have found the best of both worlds by weighing some normal plants down in a BB tank. It's easy to clean AND looks great. I will post some pics when I get my camera arriving soon to show you what I mean.

HTH

THUNDER · 08-02-2006, 08:16 AM

I just read Purey's post on another thread and its helpful. Thanks. Ill ask more questions soon.

03-16-2005, 10:12 AM	#22
BarbN Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Burlington/Toronto CANADA Posts: 18	Good info! Barb www.canadadiscus.com

03-16-2005, 10:21 AM	#23
Cichlid-Man MFT Staff Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 8,811	Hey barb, good to see you around here. I've always liked seeing your discus over at Simply (where i lurk under the title Discus-n00b)) you sure do have some beauties! __________________

03-21-2005, 10:29 PM	#25
fishboy Super Fish Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 1,565	Very nice fish. Daniel __________________ There is a light at the end of every tunnel, just pray it isn't a train. ----Ragin Algae---- Angel - Vocals C-Man - Drums fishboy - Lead Guitar Loach - Bass guitar Pooky - triangle Featuring the #1 hit single "Stacys Mom"!

03-21-2005, 11:12 PM	#26
Cichlid-Man MFT Staff Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 8,811	Oh so now he pops his head in Love the Greens and WBs barb. __________________

03-27-2005, 08:56 PM	#27
BarbN Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Burlington/Toronto CANADA Posts: 18	Thank you Barb __________________ I breed discus, angelfish and albino bristlenose plecos Check out my website at: ____________ www.canadadiscus.com

10-26-2004, 02:42 PM	#21
jabberwocky Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: queensbury ny Posts: 8	thank u for responding Cichlid-Man i am also in mirc chat in aquaria if anyone wants to talk fish or otherwise

08-02-2006, 06:12 AM	#28
THUNDER Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 567	FishBoy, you make it seem like taking care of any Discus fishies would be a major engery drain on all of us. Every day water change? Are you serious?! Could they be happy with weekly change with excessive filters? Lets just say that I get one of Emperor 400, will that be enough for weekly water change? How about two of Emperor 400, will that be enough for weekly water change or every two weeks? How about I add the UGF with thin gravels? Seriously, a bare tank is ugly. If they must have a bare tank, can they accept under 2 inch of gravel? What kinda gravel? Do they need real plants or will accept fake plants? Do they prefer driftwoods or rocks or just plants? Are you saying to have two heaters working at once, settings to be at 85? If the temperature is going to be that high, then UGF is a must to increase oxygen in the water. You say that it is best to get an adult Discus. How do I know which is an adult? How fast do they grow to become an adult? Most importantly, do they attack humans? Do they have teeth? Thunder

08-02-2006, 07:11 AM	#29
Luca Medium Fish Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Middle Earth (New Zealand) Posts: 542	Hi Thunder lol no they won't bite you, they're not as territorial as some other bigger cichlids. It's a good idea to have two heaters, but not necessary, personally I don't do it and haven't had any problems touchwood. Discus reach adult hood at 18 months, they continue to colour up until then which is awesome, so fun to grow them out from young, which means yes a barebottom (BB) tank and daily, twice daily, every second day water changes, the more the better. You don't "have" to, but they grow much better and don't get stunted if you do. A stunted discus is one with a big eye, it's out of proportion and doesn't look as good as one with a small eye. Overfiltration isn't as good as daily water changes, because filters alone do not remove nitrate. Nitrate (basically fish waste) is believed to be growth inhibiting (hence the need for daily water changes to remove nitrate). Real plants are best because they help remove bad toxins from the water, like ammonia and nitrate. Discus prefer more driftwood than rocks or plants, because this resembles their natural habitat more realistically. The odd rock is found in the wild however. A BB tank doesn't look as nice as a planted, but I have found the best of both worlds by weighing some normal plants down in a BB tank. It's easy to clean AND looks great. I will post some pics when I get my camera arriving soon to show you what I mean. HTH __________________ I did not have sexual relations with that woman

08-02-2006, 08:16 AM	#30
THUNDER Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 567	I just read Purey's post on another thread and its helpful. Thanks. Ill ask more questions soon. Last edited by THUNDER; 08-02-2006 at 08:32 AM..