Hello Discus experts,

I just got into the discus hobby. I have 7 discus at about 4" in size, in a 90g tank. From reading discuss information on some web sites, it is recommended that we do daily water change. Is it really necessary???

I do 30% water change weekly and my discuss is eating well and looking healthy. May be daily water change is only needed for breeding purpose and not for fun keeping. what are your experiences???

Kimha.

The whole notion behind raising discus has some conspiracies behind it, but individuals, like Jack Wattley, have done research in the field. The notion is that daily water changes removes hormones in the water that discus naturally release to hinder the growth of one another. If you track the growth progress between a large discus in the same tank as a group of small discus, the small discuses wouldn't grow at the rate they would have, ahd the larger discus been removed. Thats why breeders seperate anything witha size discrepancy greater then 1 inch. Another reason daily water changes is beneficial is becuase of the natural trace elements that are found in water. Well water is the water of choice that Jack Wattley uses because it has a higher concentration of calcium something (i forgot). Which he proved to increase discus size, as opposed to using tap water alone. There are many practices that many discus breeders use because they feel it will yield healthier, more colorful discus. The decision making is up to you, the discus will grow well with or without your own resevoir of well water, but there is a difference.

I do water change every 3 days. Daily water change is only required when u r breeding/over stocking fish. But even breeding daily water change seem to be too much. 2-3 days is more like it to me. As I dont have that much time to do water change .

so good so far