Daily water changes, is it necessary?

[Discusrite]

Because, the readings of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are zeroes in my tank. So what is the point of doing water changes? I've been doing daily water changes but just wondering if I can cut back.

[Willie]

I don't. You should change water if it gets dirty. Most people change 2 - 3 times a week. Some change even less. For me, the ideal situation would be a 15% change every second day. However, I will make much larger changes for babies -- as much as 50% twice a day for a large batch. IMO, you won't see a difference going from once a day to once every other day.

Willie

[GulfCoastDiscus]

Water changes is based on how much you feed and population. The larger the population and more feeding, the more waterchanges is needed.

dan

[jules]

So what would you recommend for 6 3-4" Discus in a 55 gallon planted?

And 2 3-4" Discus in a 20 Gallon bb? thx again.

[Carol_Roberts]

Willie posted on "objectives" in another thread that is a good thing for you to think about too. (reply 11) http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=21;action=display;threadid=14763;s tart=0#lastPost
I would guess that your objective is to have the display tank as your focal point with discus swimming through it. If so, then you can change less water and make the enviornment more plant friendly. The trade off is that your discus may not grow any larger. Juveniles discus usually do not grow well in a planted tank no matter how much water is changed.

[GulfCoastDiscus]

I agree with Carol. Grow 'em out first in a bb tank. 6- 3" to 4" in a 55gal is great. 2- 3" to 4" in a 20gal is ok but I wouldn't. Too lonely for 2. JMO

dan

[Discusrite]

I have 11 2-4" discus in a 130 US gallon of water, including the water in the sump. Feeding is 4 times a day with Tetra Bits. On my off days, I will feed with BH mix, and do more water changes. I'm just lazy on working days. Oh yeah, it is a BB tank.
Tell me what I should do.

[Carol_Roberts]

Eleven 2-4 inch discus in 130 gallons of water is a very low stocking density. Tetra bits are pretty clean food. Daily water changes of 25% should be fine

[jules]

Yes that is my objective - to have a beautiful planted tank with Discus. To tell you the truth I have one juvie that has grown 2" since late September.

:love:Two is lonely, do you think 3 would be a crowd in a 20 gallon?

[GulfCoastDiscus]

Wow..1 juvie by itself. :'( Juveniles do better in a group of 6 or more. You can put 6 if they are only 2". You will need to transfer them as they grow out to a 55gal.

Dan

[Carol_Roberts]

If the two are getting along in the 20 gallon leave them be. Three is a bad number and 4 isn't much better. Remember you have to quarantine all new discus. Next time purchase 6 or more discus at once and grow them out them in a 55 gallon bb tank.

I usually have about 9 that size in a 55 bb with 50% daily water changes and clean food like tetra bits, blackworms, and ONF1 flakes.

[mattrox]

Are nitrates the what causes small discuc to be stunted or are there other things like dissolved organic compounds that also play a role?

[Carol_Roberts]

Other things. Most of us keep our nitrates under 5 ppm.

[mattrox]

Then to determine how much water to change each day it would be good to know the rate of increase nitate each day.

If you wanted a reading of 5 ppm and found the tank at 10 ppm you would need a 50% water change. Then if it kept rising 5 ppm each day you would need 50% daily water changes.

How manyy pmm do nitrates rise each day in other peoples tanks?

[Carol_Roberts]

My nitrAtes are close to zero everyday. There are all kinds of bacteria and fungus and who knows what all landing in the water and growing the minute it leaves the faucet. The more fresh water you can put in the tank each day the better.

[RyanH]

Another thing to consider....

Discus, like other fish, releases a pheromone into the water that regulates their growth. In a small environment like a fishtank that pheromone can build up quickly. By diluting that pheromone, they can grow larger than they would without the water changes.

[mattrox]

That is interesting. I would like to find out more about that. Do you have a scientific references that I could look up and read on that topic?

[Alan]

Regarding WC's and growth, click on this link and then click on "Experiment"

http://members.shaw.ca/dclubine/master.htm

[mattrox]

Very interesting reading.