Setting up a discus tank is probably the most critical element of discus care, but it doesn’t need to be a trial. In fact with a bit of preparation it is a highly enjoyable undertaking. Before you even contemplate selecting a discus fish tank you want to consider three areas:

For starters what size tank will I need?

Discus will need a good deal of space, for that reason a 55 gallon fish tank will be the least size that you will need.

Second do I have a place to place the tank?

Discus fish don’t enjoy bright lights or exposure to noise, so the tank needs to be in a appropriate spot, and still be in view in order to enjoy your discus fish.

And then thirdly exactly what is the purpose of the Discus aquarium?

Is it going to be a display tank or a breeding tank, this should effect things for example the size of the tank in addition to if you want plants in there or not

After you have thought about all these elements and decided which tank you should buy, then the most critical element to consider will be; practically all difficulties with discus fish are generally the result of just one thing:

Poor Fish tank Conditions

Discus can be sensitive fish. Their body’s defense mechanism just isn’t set up to handle bad living circumstances. So when setting up a discus fish tank what we looking to do is emulate, as accurately as it can be, their natural environment . This is successfully done by preparing and setting up the fish tank properly.

Thus let’s begin at the beginning of good aquarium set-up and look at the equipment you will require for the discus tank
. Here is a set of the basics:

– A tank (for discus, larger is better)

– Aquarium lid

– Tank stand

– Heater (two is better)

– A thermometer

– Filters

– Lights

– Air pump

– Stand for your tank

– Bucket

– Net

– Test kits

– Cleaning tools

– Decorations

Buying The Tank

I strongly suggest choosing a tank in a specialized fish store, there’s two main reasons behind that

1. Employees are usually more knowledgeable than in a general pet shop

2. Fur and feathers from other pets could contaminate you tank in a ordinary pet store.

Then you will have to choose whether or not you will want a glass or acrylic aquarium, This is actually an individual choice and I wouldn’t suggest one over the other.

Aquarium Size

This is surely the most critical thing to take into account with the purchase of a tank, for the reason that you can not change your mind later. A larger, lengthier fish tank is perfect for discus, they have to have place to manoeuvre around and, since they are social fish, you ought to have a number of discus within your aquarium and that means you need lots of space for all these discus fish!

Ensure you have a suitable location for the aquarium before purchasing one. You really do not want to buy a Fifty-five gallon fish tank, and then bring it back home only to find you have no place to position it.

Filters

I would suggest biological filters for your discus aquarium, discus fish don’t do well with chemical filters.

Bad water quality is simply the # 1 reason why discus fish become ill, so seeking the most suitable filter is important.

Heaters

Discus prefer their water to be between 80 and 86 degrees F (27-30°C), this really is really important, Discus are tropical fish so if the water gets too cold then they’ll get sick. Hence owning a couple of heaters is good, they will heat the water inside of a large fish tank much more uniformly and if one breaks then you don’t have a big drama to deal with.

This should aid to make a discus aquarium. You could insert things like decorations and plant life to really help make your discus fish tank feel like a home for your discus fish

You know discus fish become ill, but are you aware how to spot the warning signs or the right way to care for your precious discus fish? It’s not like you are able to simply take it to a hospital and even a veterinarian, it is therefore important to inform yourself in connection with the signs or symptoms and treatments of the various discus diseases.

Exactly like with human beings, pathogens are the main reason for fish becoming unwell. Still in contrast to people discus dwell in water, if the water is not treated in the correct way or tanks aren’t cleaned regularly it may well turn into an excellent breeding ground for pathogens. These pathogens are able to end up getting below the scales of the fish causing them to become ill. Checking out the various internet forums I discovered that discus disease is a common and quite often debated problem. The issue appears to be that a lot of owners are not aware of what is causing their fish to get ill or ways to stop this from happening. By implementing certain key methods you can help reduce the risk of your fish getting diseases:

• Be certain they are well-fed with appropriate nutrition but it’s best not to over feed them. Primarily insure they’re getting a sufficient amount of protein.

• Frequent cleaning of the aquarium is really important, at least once each week.

• Make sure their fish tank isn’t too small or congested

• Repeatedly check the water quality, and make sure of the right ph balance ( 5.5 to 7.5 ) and water temperature, ought to be between 77 and 86 Fahrenheit (25-30°C)

• Prevent your discus fish from getting too stressed – this tends to take place when other fish become aggressive for that reason be careful in choosing tanks mates. People also are a major factor in stressing out fish whether they behave too aggressively, for instance always tapping on the aquarium glass.

You should understand Discus Diseases , their signs and treatments, even so I must advise you to make sure you are applying the correct medication in the right amount. Equally NEVER combine drugs without being told as overdosing or mistakenly treating illnesses could do a great deal more harm than good. For anyone who is in any doubt whatsoever consult with an authority as soon as you can, tropical fish forums can also be a good place to receive advice. Clearly you should ensure that the person providing you advice is qualified to do so. Equally like with humans remedies usually takes time, you can’t count on a cure over night. In case you are giving a course of antibiotics to your discus fish, make certain you give it a full course. Cutting the treatment short runs the risk of developing an antibiotic tolerant version of the disease.

Prevention is always better than a cure, if you ensure that the proper steps are taken in discus care a lot of the discus diseases are easily preventable.

This poor discus is sick with the “itch” or white spot disease