Setting Up Your Discus Fish Aquarium
Discus fish thrive in the wild rivers of South America and some in Asia. They are naturally acclimated to soft acidic water. If you are planning on keeping or breeding discus fish for yourself then you better set up your tank in its preferred water conditions similar to discus fish natural habitat. Setup the tank specifically for Discus to survive, thus imitating the natural conditions best fit for the fish. Discus are commonly comfortable in water with pH Level ranging from 5.0-7.0, hardness from 1-4°dKH, and make sure that your tank is setup with temperature ranging from 82-86°F.
Regular Water Changes
It is highly recommended to change the water in the tank regularly. Doing such helps promote water quality by getting rid of wastes and any organic compounds that can ruin the quality of the water. Regular water change also eliminates the rising levels of ammonia which can cause serious health issues to the fish. It is preferred to have it contained nearest to 0ppm. Water change is a subtle way of telling discus owners that keeping these beauties require commitment and effort.
More Space in the Tank
Start your passion with a 60-gallon tank. Discus fish are small but they grow fast that some varieties reach up to 7-9 inches big. The bigger the tank, the more space discus can swim around in. This is important for the fish to reach its full potential growth.
Plants and Decorative are OPTIONAL
Most discus keepers prefer the tank empty – or having the least decorative in it possible. The reason is simple, setting up the tank empty will emphasize the beauty and the color of the fish. However, if you think that a barren tank is boring or unappealing, then you can add some plants or decors in it. A piece of reminder though: limit the things you put in the tank so that it wouldn’t disrupt with the movements of the fish.
Filtration System
Discus came from slow moving waters, they are not suited for fast moving water flows. Make sure that your filtration system is not overpowered. Use a canister filtration system because they can be filled with a wide range of media that can implement optimal water conditions.
Monitor Water Temperature
Never forget to acquire an accurate heater and a thermometer. These things are musts in setting up a tank. Discus thrive in warm water and they are very sensitive in terms of that. Slight change in temperature can cause stress to the fish and even start parasitic growth. As a discus lover, I highly suggest that a digital temperature system is installed that can prompt a warning when temperature is not optimal.
Lighting
Do not install bulbs that emit bright lights. Discus get stressed out when they are exposed it. Just put enough lighting to make the tank well lit.
Equipment on Back-up
Sudden power surge or blackouts can cause problems to the tank and the fishes in it. Make sure that you have a generator handy to serve as a backup power source for your tank. Keep another set of filtration system in case something happens to what you are currently using.
Limit Discus Fish Tank Mates
Do not over-populate your tank. Even experienced fish keepers prefer a discus-only tank. Discus fish love to mingle and swim around in groups but if there are more fish than enough in the tank, its movement will get disrupted which is unhealthy for the fish. More population means more competition – in terms of space and feeding. Smaller ones are more likely to get overrun by others and will not get as much food that they need.
Proper Nutrition
It is better to feed discus in small amounts, preferably bite-sized meals twice or three times a day to avoid overfeeding. They have small guts, therefor feeding them a large chunk of food once for the day is not recommended. Feed these lovelies with freeze dried black worms, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, beefheart mix, pellets and a lot more varieties of food you can use to feed them. – they are carnivores.
Keeping discus fish is never an easy task. It requires solid commitment and demands high amounts of effort to successfully grow them. Always seek advice from experts and experienced discus keepers – especially when buying discus fish for sale online that you want to put in your newly setup tank. On the lighter note, all hard work will be paid off knowing that your discus are healthy by simply putting on the right discus care for each one of them.
Reference:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=524
