ideal temp for discus comfort

[DuskRay]

Temp's important, but don't forget lighting. My 75 gallon has low LED light, 8 hours a day. Discus are less stressed with dimmer setups. Temp's at 85°F, and they're out more since I dialed back the brightness.

[Magpie]

Mine are at 82°F. 40 gallon, sponge filter, no plants. They're small, maybe 2 inches. Not growing fast. Feeding flakes once a day. Should I raise the temp?

Definitely raise it. Juveniles need 86°F to grow properly. Also, upgrade to a bigger tank soon, 40 gallons is tight for discus long-term. They'll stunt in small spaces.

[swiftly]

Thanks for the tips. Mine are around 4 inches, not sure on age. Got them from a local breeder 3 months ago. I do 30% water changes weekly, but might up it if that's not enough. Heater's got a 0.5°F variance, so it's pretty steady.

At 4 inches, they're likely 6–8 months old. Up the changes to 50% twice a week, and you'll see better growth. Also, consider adding a protein-rich food like beef heart.

[novate]

Seconding swiftly on the beef heart. My discus went from meh to mega after switching. Mix in some garlic guard to boost their immune system. Temp's at 86°F, and they're crushing it. Tank's a 75 gallon with canister filtration, and I'm lazy with water changes, but they're still thriving.

[vital]

Consistency beats perfection. My 180 gallon runs at 85°F year-round, with monthly 50% changes. Discus are breeding, so it's working. Key is matching your routine to your setup. If you can't do daily changes, invest in better filtration and stick to a schedule.

[leemike]

Mine are at 82°F. 40 gallon, sponge filter, no plants. They're small, maybe 2 inches. Not growing fast. Feeding flakes once a day. Should I raise the temp?

Definitely raise it. Juveniles need 86°F to grow properly. Also, upgrade to a bigger tank soon, 40 gallons is tight for discus long-term. They'll stunt in small spaces.

Exactly. Stunting's irreversible. If you're stuck with a 40 gallon, rehome them or upgrade ASAP. Discus need space to develop properly.

[pureride]

My 90 gallon's at 87°F, and the discus are monsters. Fed beef heart, brine shrimp, and pellets. Water changes every 3 days, 50%. They're paired with sterbai corys, which handle the heat fine. Just don't slack on the changes, or you'll regret it.

[raid]

Okay, I'll raise the temp to 85°F and feed more. Can't upgrade the tank yet, but I'll look into it. Using a 200W heater, so it should handle the increase. Thanks for the advice.

[Lena]

Good call, raid. Also, add a second sponge filter for extra bio filtration. It'll help with the smaller tank. Keep an eye on ammonia, especially if you're feeding more. Discus are sensitive to spikes.

[DuskRay]

Temp's one thing, but don't ignore tankmates. My discus were stressed until I removed the angelfish. Now it's just them and some tetras in the 75 gallon, temp at 84°F. They're way more relaxed.