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How often are you testing? If it's right after water changes, the swing might just be temporary. I test mine at the same time every day, right before feeding. 55-gallon, bare bottom, two HOBs with peat pellets. pH holds at 6.6.

Aggression at night is often linked to low oxygen levels. What's your surface agitation like? If it's too calm, they might be stressed from poor gas exchange.

Agree with blueguy on the diet. Flakes aren't gonna cut it for fry. Beef heart or frozen bloodworms ground up fine. Also, check your light cycle—12 hours max. Too much light can stress 'em out.

Wild-caught discus struggle more with hard water than tank-bred. If yours are domestic strains, they'll likely tolerate it. Monitor for clamped fins or lethargy. My 120-gallon has a mix of wild and domestic, TDS 350, but I drip-acclimated the wild ones over 6 hours.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll start with the Ludwigia and Rotala combo and see how it goes.

I'm setting up a 20 gallon planted tank and want to maximize color contrast. What are your favorite plant pairings for vibrant reds and greens? I've got a Finnex 24/7 light and CO2 injection.

Fluval E300 is sketchy for Discus, IMO. Had one fail on me last year. Switched to a Cobalt Neo-Therm 200W, and it's been rock-solid. Also, check your tank placement—drafts mess with temps more than people realize.

That's sketchy. How old are they? Juveniles can fade if they're stressed or not getting enough protein. What's your water change routine like? I had a similar issue when I was slacking on changes, even with good params. Also, any new tankmates or changes to the lighting?


They're about 8 ...

Color loss is often tied to water quality or diet. Check your TDS and pH stability. Discus are sensitive to fluctuations. Your nitrate is fine, but what's your KH and GH? Low mineral content can stress them. Also, consider adding a carotenoid supplement to their food. Spirulina or astaxanthin can ...

Re: Blue Snakeskin darting around tank

Thanks for the response, I've been doing some reading since my post yesterday.