HenryC Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 I've been wanting to put a discus tank for so long now, but I get intimidated due to their reputation. But as I research more and more, it seems their difficulty is overrated? I keep fish that do fine or even preffer hard water, as my tap water comes out very hard and at about 7.8pH. This is just out of pure convenience, I rather avoid having to implement a RODI system and make the hobby more complicated/costly. Do any of you guys have any experience with discus and very hard water? Is it doable or will they suffer just as rams? I'm talking about 18-20gh hardness, super hard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 Lots of people keep discus in hard water with a pH like yours. I think it helps if you can get your discus while they are juveniles and raise them in your water. I do have to admit though, that is pretty hard water. Like you could hammer nails with that water. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryC Posted December 9, 2020 Author Share Posted December 9, 2020 Just now, Daniel said: Lots of people keep discus in hard water with a pH like yours. I think it helps if you can get your discus while they are juveniles and raise them in your water. I do have to admit though, that is pretty hard water. Like you could hammer nails with that water. My mollies and guppies are in paradise! haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 @HenryCWith water parameters like yours I would say Discus keeping would be extremely difficult but not impossible. If you could find someone selling Discus imported from Europe you may have chance. European Discus have been raised in very hard water for many years. Have you thought of African lake cichlids? They really love that hard water. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 Stendkar discus may be more tolerant. Try Discus Hans over in Baltimore MD. Ask his view on your situation. Furthermore, maybe just buy a few juveniles and see how they do for you. Keep the tank hot... 85-88 degrees. Consider planting your tank well (choose plants that can handle heat), and add lots of wood. Maybe get an R.O. system, and just mix it with your tap water for changes? Look at Lowes to price them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 Try to find a local breeder. On a video I saw recently Guppy Guru and Wel-Don tanks talked about some locally bred (for us) discus that were born and raised in 8+ph super hard water. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryC Posted December 10, 2020 Author Share Posted December 10, 2020 (edited) Thank you guys, I'll see if I can find local bred discus. If not I guess I'll pass on them until I have a proper RODI setup.@Paul I'm eyeing peacock cichlids! I might just get a big tank of those if the discus aren't an option. Edited December 10, 2020 by HenryC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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