bobcat

Great site, plenty of useful info.

Can anyone help me with my discus problem. Started a discus tank 3 weeks ago and they don't seem to be feeding that well. I use tetra prima pellets which the shop used to feed them, and give them frozen blood worm every other day. But all they do is suck in and blow out the food for a short while and then just leave the food on the bottom swim past and thats it.

Any ideas please

Barbrella

Couple questions....

How big is your tank?
How many fish are in it?
How big are the discus?
What kind of setup: Plants, substrate etc....?
How did you cycle the tank, and for how long before adding the discus?
What are your water parameters and what were they when you put the fish in?
What is the temp of the water?

Discus can be sensitive fish, so we need to know the answers before advising you.

Dino

Welcome!!
Looking forward to hopefully being able to help you with your discus.

Rbacchiega

if you could answer the questions it'll be easier for us to help you out. Discus can take quite a while to get used to the new surroundings, but might also need a appetite stimulator as well.

bobcat

Hi Guys thanks for getting back to me here are my answers

50 gallon tank
3 discus, 5 neons blue discus no problems feeding fine active 2 malboror reds with the problem

(NOT SURE HOW TO MEASURE FISH) so i'll say 1 and half inchs long and tall!!!

Amazon sword, oxygen plants and java fern

used half old filter sponge plus RO used harding salts to increase KH AND GH
1 month

pH 7.2

Just above recommended level as I read somewhere discus like it slighty warmer

Hope this helps?

Dino

They do best at 82-84F.

susitna-flower

It sounds like you started off with discus without having your tank fully cycled. As stated, we can help you IF you will test your water and report back the readings for.

ammonia:

nitrite:

nitrate:

Temperature....

Now I know you have read up on discus, because you are using RO water and such, but most of the time unless you are breeding the ph doesn't matter IF you use care in acclimating your new fish.

As for KH and GH, I feel messing around with these can cause HUGE problems for a beginner, and beyond most peoples abilities at first to keep stable, this is the key, and fluctuations can cause disaster.

My understanding of discus is that they need pristine water conditions, and the first and best thing you can do for them would be numerous water changes.

I'll comment more after we know what your water parameters are.