Quiting aquaria after discus experience

[golfhacker]

If you really want happy, healthy, vibrant discus, then keep them in acidic water. Discus are susceptible to bacteria infections. The higher the pH, the more likely your discus will get a bacteria infection. People that keep their discus in high pH eventually will have problems. My Dad likes to say, "raising discus in alkaline water is like raising tomatoes in the shade." It really isn't good for them. In the long run you will have problems. If you read the various tropical fish forums on the net, most of the people that have problems with their discus have their fish in water with a pH higher than 7.2.

Here's an example. Just read this entire thread over at another forum.
http://www.aquaria.info/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=66967
He should have never kept his discus in water with a pH of 8.0.

 

[VOYTEK]

Man, you are not the only one !!!


I think that I've lost ... more then 1500 US DOLLARS "because" of this fish ... sometimes it was real bad luck like .. ordering a 500 San Merah Pair then having one of them jump out of the tank ... or back in the days ... simply cooking them cuz the heater that I had was didn't have a thermostat ... anyhow = ) ( there were times that they were laying eggs, and having freeswimmers ... then the babies got sucked to the filter ... cuz I didn't know to use the sponge - air driven filter ... so yeah - YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE !!!

Take care and good luck !!!


Voytek

 

[handsodragon]

If you read the various tropical fish forums on the net, most of the people that have problems with their discus have their fish in water with a pH higher than 7.2.

That is funny, http://www.greatlakesdiscus.com/ raise their discus in water that is a ph of 7.5.

 

[2sybs]

If you really want happy, healthy, vibrant discus, then keep them in acidic water. Discus are susceptible to bacteria infections. The higher the pH, the more likely your discus will get a bacteria infection. People that keep their discus in high pH eventually will have problems. My Dad likes to say, "raising discus in alkaline water is like raising tomatoes in the shade." It really isn't good for them. In the long run you will have problems. If you read the various tropical fish forums on the net, most of the people that have problems with their discus have their fish in water with a pH higher than 7.2.

Here's an example. Just read this entire thread over at another forum.
http://www.aquaria.info/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=66967
He should have never kept his discus in water with a pH of 8.0.

I see absolutely nothing attributing his problems to his PH, What I did see was the fact that he got lazy with his WCs.
Discus must have CLEAN, STABLE water. and a CONSISTENT PH in the proper temp range. Adding chemicals to the water can not be a good thing either (to lower PH).
I have read many threads of people having problems and most can be contributed to water quality (lack of WC) The only time I have seen PH be an issue was when it dropped dramatically.
There was even a member here who was bragging about his not needing to do those water changes and it was not long before he was asking for help with sick discus and If I remember correctly he kept his PH acidic.

A low PH can be an issue with Wilds and for breeding, but not for the casual discus keeper with tank bred fish.
Ray

 

[hillbilly]

I have read articles about Asian discus breeders who raise fish with PH in the 7s. Stability is more important than the perfect number.

 

[WyldFya]

That is funny, http://www.greatlakesdiscus.com/ raise their discus in water that is a ph of 7.5.

I have read articles about Asian discus breeders who raise fish with PH in the 7s. Stability is more important than the perfect number.

My discus have a pH that ranges from 7.8-6.6 everyday. Discus now are very hardy when it comes to pH, and don't really mind the swings too much even.

 

[ShadowStryder]

Dude, you used to keep african cichlids? I'm glad you got some sense into you!! Haha

Scary isn't it, was only the Tropheus though, we all have our moments. But I have to admit they were mean little SOB's.

 

[PoopSmart]

discus are tough, I don't care how many cocky people want to say they are easy



That statement is pure nonsense. What is so frigging tough about giving your fish warm, clean water, and good food? That's all that Discus demand from us to stay alive. If one can't do these simple things, then they should not be in the hobby at all IMO.

well lets see compared to OTHER fish like I said, yeah they are more difficult to care for, they require much more attention to detail and a strict tank maintenece regime.

I mean if you compare it to brain surgery or talking to girls, yeah its much easier to keep discus, but thats not what I even said.

If you really think feeding fish only frozen food that you have to thaw is easy (easier than feeding just flakes to say angelfish) then you are lying to yourself. Also if you pay attention to Jack Wattley at all (if you keep discus you should) he stands by daily water changes, which quite frankly is a bit more difficult than once a week changes. Yeah just a bit more attention needs to be payed to discus, not to mention the price which is harder to deal with since the average fishkeeper doesn't have 60 dollars around to buy one fish.

they are hard to care for, its not a beginner fish by any means. I would never say to someone who is getting into fishkeeping, "Hey you should start with discus, they are very hardy, forgiving, and all around easy fish to care for!"

 

[WyldFya]

well lets see compared to OTHER fish like I said, yeah they are more difficult to care for, they require much more attention to detail and a strict tank maintenece regime.

I mean if you compare it to brain surgery or talking to girls, yeah its much easier to keep discus, but thats not what I even said.

If you really think feeding fish only frozen food that you have to thaw is easy (easier than feeding just flakes to say angelfish) then you are lying to yourself. Also if you pay attention to Jack Wattley at all (if you keep discus you should) he stands by daily water changes, which quite frankly is a bit more difficult than once a week changes. Yeah just a bit more attention needs to be payed to discus, not to mention the price which is harder to deal with since the average fishkeeper doesn't have 60 dollars around to buy one fish.

they are hard to care for, its not a beginner fish by any means. I would never say to someone who is getting into fishkeeping, "Hey you should start with discus, they are very hardy, forgiving, and all around easy fish to care for!"

All fish require a strict maintenance regiment to maintain a healthy system. Daily water changes is not needed for your general discus, if you intend to breed, or want show quality discus that can be shown at ACA events, then yes daily water changes are good. Jack Wattley is a very influential man as far as discus go, but there are a 1000 different ways people raise these fish now. Your last statement is very true, but that isn't what is being recommended.

Yeah just a bit more attention needs to be payed to discus, not to mention the price which is harder to deal with since the average fishkeeper doesn't have 60 dollars around to buy one fish.

This site is obviously not for the average fish keeper. Many of the fish on this website are far above $60 each. I just got a $200 black arowana, and several members have rays, plecos, gars, giant gouramies, barramundi, polypterus, knife fish, arowanas, datnoids, snakeheads and even sharks that run into the hundreds of dollars.

 

[hillbilly]

All fish require a strict maintenance regiment to maintain a healthy system. Daily water changes is not needed for your general discus, if you intend to breed, or want show quality discus that can be shown at ACA events, then yes daily water changes are good. Jack Wattley is a very influential man as far as discus go, but there are a 1000 different ways people raise these fish now. Your last statement is very true, but that isn't what is being recommended.



This site is obviously not for the average fish keeper. Many of the fish on this website are far above $60 each. I just got a $200 black arowana, and several members have rays, plecos, gars, giant gouramies, barramundi, polypterus, knife fish, arowanas, datnoids, snakeheads and even sharks that run into the hundreds of dollars.

So true. All my larger tanks are on drip water change. I would not have the time to keep all my tanks up properly otherwise. I certainly don't do daily massive water changes. In fact, with 2 gph drip, I don't do any water changes at all. Just a little bottom vac every couple of days, and all the fish are healthy. Todays tank raised fish, and not just Discus, have adapted to aquarium conditions that are much different than their wild cousins. They are not as fragile as some people want to believe. A perfect example: I ordered some tank raised Discus a while back. One of the bags that one of fish was in leaked. Here was this 6" fish head down in less than 2" of water, gasping to breathe, with nearly his entire body out of water. I quickly picked the fish up, and threw it in the tank. It sank to the bottom. In about 3 hours or so, it gathered enough strength to hold itself upright. By the next day it was swimming normally. Today, it's the dominant fish in that tank. If Discus are so fragile and hard to keep, then this fish should be dead. Yes, I too have many hundreds of dollars worth of fish, which really ticks off the wife!