Nitrate levels while growing out discus?

[ryansmith83]

^ Yeah, that's rubbish. I've been keeping discus for 15+ years. 50% water changes per week on sub-adult fish will stunt them. People have been trying for as long as I've been online to get away with cutting out water changes and those are always the people that have A) sickly fish, or B) "adult" fish that top out at 4". That's not the adult size of a discus. They are a lot like Uaru in the sense that keeping them in subpar conditions will result in their overall health going downhill.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I am not trying to get away with one water change a week but I also know I will not be able to do a water change every single day. From what I have read they require much more frequent water changes and clean water when they are juveniles. I will have a 55 gallon water change drum set up that I will keep filled with heated and aged water. I am not opposed to doing 2-3 water changes per week in the 50-90% range but I won't be able to do it every day.

The reason I brought up my original question about the nitrate levels is because I would like to try to have something to go by as far as determining if my water parameters are getting too far off. I will be growing these fish out and then adding them to a 220 planted tank that will also house fire eel(s). It will be a show tank and I would like to do my research on the discus so that I can grow them out myself and have beautiful fish for the show tank.

Thank you all for your help!

 

[ryansmith83]

Never over 20ppm, but preferably lower than 10ppm.

Water changes are accomplishing more than removing nitrates. See my lengthy post here about the importance of that.

 

[tlindsey]

^ Yeah, that's rubbish. I've been keeping discus for 15+ years. 50% water changes per week on sub-adult fish will stunt them. People have been trying for as long as I've been online to get away with cutting out water changes and those are always the people that have A) sickly fish, or B) "adult" fish that top out at 4". That's not the adult size of a discus. They are a lot like Uaru in the sense that keeping them in subpar conditions will result in their overall health going downhill.

I agree totally with ryansmith83 , I experienced the ugly side, due to not having the resources at the time , and knowledgeable MFK member's and other online sites wich only focus on the well being of the king of freshwater fish. @ Fish Tank Tr.... I wish you the best.