For Discus fish, there are 2 consideration in tanks - tank depth and volume. Because of their size and swimming habits, a minimum of 18" is needed for tank depth, the deeper the better. Regarding volume, a good rule of thumb is that each adult discus will need 10 gallons of water. Larger tanks will also give more stable water conditions, and taking into account other considerations the minimum size for a discus show tank should be no less than 55 gallons. It is also advisable to use a rectangular tank. Not only are they cheaper, but are more efficient, because they maximize surface area. Surface area is the most important factor in buying a tank. Why? Because it is only at the surface of the tank that gas exchange occurs. (Oxygen in, Carbon dioxide out.) Assuming you have a seventy five gallon show tank, and it's biological filter is working as required, up to twenty young fish 3 inches in size, or 6 or 8 fully adult discus can comfortably inhabit the tank. An outside filter may be added to large tanks to increase basic aeration and biological filtration needs.
Keep in mind that when young discus fish are small,they grow fast and become quite large in a short period of time if fed well and water quality is maintained. If your tank is too small they will not be happy and it will quickly stunt their growth. Juvenile discus should not be kept in overly large tanks. Being a social fish, Discus tend to become very skittish in large tanks. In our hatchery, we place 6 Discus up to 1.5" in a 29-gallon tank. They will be moved tp larger tanks when they get to 2.5", and show possible signs of "pairing off". Always try to buy the largest tank you can afford for discus fish.
If breeding Discus is a consideration later on, tanks can be down sized to twenty gallons per pair. At our hatchery, 29 gallon rectangular glass tanks are utilized for every breeding pair. A bare bottomed tank with at 2 ? gallons of water per inch of fish, a couple of sponge filters and a canister filter with activated carbon in it is used to begin the process. This is maintained at 6.6 - 6.8 PH, and the temperature is set at 82 to 84 degrees F. We make 50% water changes weekly, and some breeders will go as high as 95%. Optimal results would be achieved with a 15% water change daily. Because Discus produce slime on their body, and it is shed regularly,it coats the inner surface of the tank and promotes bacterial growth. A safe bet is to wipe down every discus tank every week. There are commercial sponges and brushes available to do this chore.
Because Discus are large fish, they require clean water and proper filtration. The tank must be "cycled" and tested for nitrates/nitrites before placement of Discus in the tank. Our policy is to use fish such as some of the more common cichlids to "cycle" the tank. A good rule of thumb here is to wait at least 4 weeks before attempting to place Discus with the "cycling" fish. If you are active in the aquarist community, a friend might possibly loan you some "cycling fish" to begin your project, and the "cyclers" can be returned to their owner upon completion of the cycle.
Discus prefer soft water, due to the constant rainfall and run-off in their natural habitat. We are more concerned, however, with cleanliness. It is much better to have a high quality of hygiene in the tank than it is having optimal water conditions, though we strive for both. Discus will adapt to most conditions, including PH up to 7.8 and 350-ppm microsiemens of hardness, but cannot survive in constantly changing water conditions or dirty water.
Alden Smith is a published author, and has been marketing on the internet for 7 years. His website, king discus, is an active gathering place for discus breeders and lovers of discus fish. His wife Betsy is the administrator of king discus a site rich in online recipes and cookbooks.
family-safe home cleaners Northbrook ..When Lucky was starting to show signs of aging, we... Read More
Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't... Read More
The other day I was doing a research online for... Read More
Mum, dad, can we get a puppy? Its a plea... Read More
Westie Grooming ? When your west highland white terrier becomes... Read More
Sometimes puppies are born that can't suckle properly, and it's... Read More
A well-train dog usually leads a happier and healthier life... Read More
A poorly trained dog is a nuisance and can even... Read More
I'm sure you're aware of the bad reputation Pitbulls have.... Read More
Which cat food should you feed your cat to be... Read More
Having a boxer dog as a pet, although low-maintenance, require... Read More
Whether you intend to show your Westie, or keep him... Read More
Yes! We love our wonderful and dear Pooches! We care... Read More
If you are thinking of adding a dog to your... Read More
Buying a new dog is more than simply finding the... Read More
It is always sad when a beloved animal family member... Read More
You want your dog to swim?We're going to try to... Read More
Knowing how to feed your betta is fundamental, because doing... Read More
Out of all the pet animals, the cat is most... Read More
Do I Need A Quarantine Tank?Ah, yes, the often dismissed... Read More
What is Separation Anxiety?When you leave the house, it is... Read More
There is a dangerous problem that horse owners should be... Read More
All puppies are small dogs ? some, however, won't be... Read More
Advice!!!-Pet products that are useful, fun and enjoyable will make... Read More
There are three important litter box considerations to account for... Read More
residential cleaning services Deerfield ..There are lots of ways a horse can go lame.... Read More
You know that cats should always have a supply of... Read More
They may seem to be bold explorers - sniffing at... Read More
Pet ContainmentIf you just recently became a pet owner or... Read More
Herbology, basically, is the use of herbs in the treatment... Read More
Well first of all I was always a cat owner,... Read More
Many dog owners find themselves frustrated, deeply concerned and even... Read More
For a cat, scratching is a natural, necessary act. Besides... Read More
Stingrays will eat a wide variety of foods. Maintaining a... Read More
Our pets give us so much. They entertain us, listen... Read More
Man's Best Friend is a great companion around the home,... Read More
There are many ways in which you can prepare for,... Read More
Pets can enjoy the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy as much... Read More
Buying dog doors onlineIf you need to buy a dog... Read More
If your feline friend could speak your language, here a... Read More
For thousands of years, dogs have been "man's best friend."... Read More
A couple of years ago a Japanese electronics company came... Read More
Stroking your cat can be good for your health! It... Read More
Vitamins Can Increase Your Dog's Life Span!There is evidence to... Read More
From the first day of life on a leash, most... Read More
Are you nuts? You think banging your finger with a... Read More
So you'd like to know how to build a dog... Read More
I'd like to talk to you about pet vaccinations. I... Read More
Domesticated cats have been gaining in popularity in the United... Read More
Dog flea control and management requires an integrated approach. For... Read More
Pet |