Who Gives A Fish Forums

Ain't got time for RO, man. I chuck peat pellets in a mesh bag in my HOB filter. Water's tea-colored but my Discus don't care, they're too busy making babies. 55 gallon, sponge filter, temp at 84°F. GH dropped from 12 to 5 in two weeks. Just sayin'.


That's wild! I might try peat in my ...

How often are you doing water changes? I found that smaller, daily changes (10-15%) helped mine settle faster. Big changes can stress 'em out, especially if the new water's not matched perfectly.


This is key. Also, try feeding at the same spot every time. They'll associate that area with food ...

Agree with blueguy on surface agitation. I've got a spray bar on my canister filter to keep things moving. Also, if you're dosing ferts, go easy. Discus don't like high nitrates, so I stick to half doses. My plants are still growing like crazy, and the fish are happy.

Co2's totally safe if you do it right. My discus are in a 100 gallon with co2, and they're thriving. I've got a mix of vals, swords, and crypts. Running a co2 art regulator with a diffuser, and I check levels daily. Water changes are 40% weekly, and I use Seachem Prime. Temp's at 83F. Just make sure ...

Yep, that's what I do. Parents are great at laying eggs, but terrible at parenting. Fry tank is the way to go.

Yo, same issue here. Lost two batches before I figured it out. Parents were eating the fry. Had to separate them into a bare-bottom tank with a divider. Now I let the parents spawn, then move the eggs to a fry tank. Works like a charm, but it's a hassle.

Lyn wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 10:33 am I'm new to this, but why 84°F? Is that the ideal temp for breeding? My tank's at 82°F, and I've got a pair that's been hanging out together. Should I bump it up?

Yeah, 84°F mimics their natural spawning conditions. Bumping it up might encourage them.

I'm planning to set up a breeding tank for my Discus and wanna make sure I get it right. Got a 40-gallon tank, sponge filter, and a heater set to 84°F. Substrate is bare bottom for now, but I'm thinking about adding some driftwood. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, nitrate around 10 ppm ...