Water Chemistry For The Discus Tank

Much has been written about the Discus, or Symphysodon aequifasciatus, its Latin name. The Discus has always been given a bad rap for being hard to raise and difficult to keep. Actually, these long-lived fishes are easy to keep as long as certain guidelines are followed.

Here, we discuss the different water parameters that MUST be followed if we are to insure that our Discus friends are kept happy and healthy.

Testing the Waters

Initially, you will need to test for chloramine and chlorine, pH, and alkalinity. If you are a city dweller, a lot of this information can be gotten from the city waterworks, and although a good idea to do so, I would not recommend that you rely exactly on this information. At anywhere from $275 to $425 for a breeding pair, an initial investment for a decent PH/TDS meter is well qualified. Currently at King Discus Hatchery, we use a Hanna Combo PH/TDS meter that measures in ppt (parts per trillion) for the most accurate reading of our tanks.

Determining the levels of pH and alkalinity in your base water is the first step in this process. Although some base water is quite good for the discus with little or no buffering, some water will need extensive conditioning before the first Discus can be introduced into the tank. Once you know the levels of PH and alkalinity, water chemistry tests should be conducted on a regular basis.

Test on a regular basis. When you are comfortable with this process, it is time to and add a few more tests to the battery of tests performed.

These tests will be for nitrite and nitrate, phosphate. In the planted tank, you will need to also test for iron and CO2. Test kits are very easy to use if instructions are followed to the letter. A particular number of drops of the testing reagent must always be accurate, following instructions on the test kit, or test results can be skewed. Test kits and probes available for the aquarium are quite inexpensive and easy to use, and can generally be bought at your local pet supply store, especially if they specialize in aquarium keeping.

Toxins in the Water Supply

Be aware that Chlorine or chloramine are routinely added to the water in many urban areas. Using a simple color test kit to determine the presence and concentration of either is very advisable. Removing these elements of chlorine or chloramine is a vital part of the process to properly condition your water. Conditioning is carefully adjusting the chemistry of the water to raise it to the parameters required for Discus keeping. Aging the water through carbon filtration (mechanical), aging the water, and proper aeration will be of benefit. Be aware, though, that aeration will not remove chloramine from your water. Chlorine can also be removed by adding prepared chlorine removers, but Nick Lockhart, the breeder for King Discus Hatchery, is not fond of using buffering agents. Constant water changes in the Discus tank will only leach these buffers, and then you are unsure of where your water chemistry is at. Nothing will harm the Discus more than wild fluctuations of PH. It is much more advisable to use reverse osmosis or deionization. We use RO, with a special Peat Moss filter to accomplish our parameters. The process of RO with fine tuned filtration of the RO water will remove virtually all toxins, but one must be aware that Discus cannot live in pure RO water, and steps must again be taken to insure proper levels of acidity/PH in the RO water. Chloramine is a combination of chlorine and ammonia, and some water companies need to use this for disinfection of the water supply.

If these simple tests are done on a regular basis, and care is taken to insure that there are no wild PH swings in the Discus tank, your success as a Discus breeder are much higher.

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 All The Best Recipes a site rich in online recipes and cookbooks.

---

Google News Updated : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:51:10 GMT Spotlight on Apple notebooks: 1989 to 2008 - CNNMoney.com Washington Post Spotlight on Apple notebooks: 1989 to 2008 CNNMoney.com - 2 hours ago On Tuesday, Oct. 14, Apple will unveil the latest addition to a long line of portable computers that dates back nearly 20 years - to the ungainly, 15.8-pound “Macintosh Portable” that PC World named the 17th worst technology product of all time. This week in Apple: New notebooks, new writers, and more Woz Ars Technica Don't Buy A Mac Laptop* Washington Post New York Times - eFluxMedia - CRN - Wall Street Journal all 185 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:23:15 GMT Texas new No. 1 in coaches poll after wild college football weekend - USA Today News 8 Austin Texas new No. 1 in coaches poll after wild college football weekend USA Today - 32 minutes ago By Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY The date won't quite live in infamy, but college football followers should remember Oct. 11, 2008, for a long time. Kansas fails to move up in polls KUsports Texas grabs top ranking in AP Poll Louisville Courier-Journal The Huntsville Times - al.com - Austin American-Statesman - The Birmingham News - al.com - Nittany Lines all 13 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:18:35 GMT US-POLITICS Summary - Washington Post USA Today US-POLITICS Summary Washington Post - 2 hours ago WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama has opened a 6-point lead over Republican rival John McCain in the US presidential race, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Sunday. John McCain and Sarah Palin try new tactics Los Angeles Times Pittsburgh Paper Picks Obama, Pans on McCain/Palin Ticket FOXNews Dallas Morning News - Seattle Times - KXMC - San Francisco Chronicle all 1,680 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:22:18 GMT Obama Gains in States Such as Iowa, Florida Give National Boost - Bloomberg BBC News Obama Gains in States Such as Iowa, Florida Give National Boost Bloomberg - 1 hour ago By James Rowley and Kristin Jensen Oct. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is moving ahead in a series of new polls from Florida to Iowa, gains that are helping him maintain a national lead over Republican John McCain. Video: Kids Vote On Campaign '08 CBS Newsday poll: Obama has double-digit lead on Long Island Newsday Orlando Sentinel - New York Times - Reuters - Detroit Free Press all 2,708 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:51:54 GMT Stem cell promises, obstacles remain four years after bill's approval - San Jose Mercury News Stem cell promises, obstacles remain four years after bill's approval San Jose Mercury News - 1 hour ago EDITOR'S NOTE: This is first of a two-part series examining the progress and potential pitfalls in California's $3 billion stem cell research program. Researchers find easier way to make stem cells Reuters India New method generates stem cells safely from mice Reuters Chicago Tribune - Bloomberg - Houston Chronicle - The Daily Yomiuri all 68 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:34:39 GMT "Chihuahua" bites Crowe, DiCaprio at box office - Reuters "Chihuahua" bites Crowe, DiCaprio at box office Reuters - 1 hour ago LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The new terrorism thriller "Body of Lies" failed to take the top spot at the weekend box office in North America on Sunday, becoming the latest victim of moviegoer aversion to movies dealing with Middle East intrigue. 'Chihuahua' still has bite in second weekend at box office USA Today ‘Body’ Talk, Baby Talk Business Mirror Fort Wayne Journal Gazette all 21 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:19:10 GMT Lisa Marie Presley delivers twins: report - Reuters Reuters Lisa Marie Presley delivers twins: report Reuters - Oct 11, 2008 LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley's only child, gave birth to twin baby girls on October 7, celebrity news TV show "Entertainment Tonight" said on its website on Saturday. Twin girls for Lisa Marie Presley BBC News Lisa Marie Presley Welcomes Twin Girls E! Online eFluxMedia - People Magazine - Associated Content - USA Today all 652 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:17:01 GMT Affiliate Data Feeds Amazon Associate Feed

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

History of Dogs? Or Maybe Wolves?

OriginDo you know that the adorable little puppy you bought... Read More

Dog House Training: Straightforward Advice

Making sure that accidents don't happen in the first place... Read More

Kittens Are Just The Cutest Things

Is there anything more cute and cuddly than tiny little... Read More

Oscar

Oscar is kind of a funny name and it fit... Read More

Price of Unconditional Love

Why is it that cats get no respect? Are they... Read More

Probiotics - The Good Bacteria

PROBIOTICS - The Good Bacteria - Does your pet have... Read More

Train Your Buddy To ?Walk? & ?Dance? - Warning: Not All Dogs Can Do It!

Standing and walking on the hind legs are tricks that... Read More

Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)

What is Canine Hip Dysplasia?Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is a... Read More

Are Exotic Cats a Threat to Public Safety? Why Exotic Pets Are Not Dangerous

I would like to address some of the statements I... Read More

Westie Merchandise that Benefits your Dog

There are many places to find Westie merchandise, but before... Read More

Pet Containment: Keep You Pet in the Yard and Out of Places You Dont Want Them to Be

Pet ContainmentIf you just recently became a pet owner or... Read More

Dog Health Conditions and Terms You Should Know... Part 2

Cryptorchidism is peculiar to male dogs and a condition present... Read More

Thats No Paris Hilton! An Overview of Dog Obedience Training Videos

Mention the word "video" and different people would come up... Read More

A Dog Name is Something To Be Chosen Carefully

How important is a dog name? Well let's think about... Read More

A Pregnant Stray Cat Adopted You ? And Now What?

It happens all too often. A family or cat friend... Read More

Rules of Thumb for Saddle Fit

In compiling some information on achieving a proper fit to... Read More

Canine Bloat

What is Canine Bloat?Bloat refers to the bloating of the... Read More

Leash Training Your Dog-Take The Time To Get It Done and Do It Right

Attempting to train your dog to walk on a leash... Read More

West Highland White Terrier - Westies - Training Success Tips

The West Highland Terrier is a friendly dog, and is... Read More

A Look at Discount Dog Beds

Many people want to make sure their family pet has... Read More

Responsible Dog Ownership

Owning a dog is a serious responsibility, one that should... Read More

West Highland White Terriers - Make Your Westie Famous

The West Highland White Terrier or Westie, has it's origin,... Read More

The One-Minute Horse Training Manager

If your life is so busy you literally only have... Read More

Is A Boxer Dog The Right Pet For You?

Having a boxer dog as a pet, although low-maintenance, require... Read More

Puppy Training that is Safe for Your Puppy

Puppy training can and should begin the day you bring... Read More