Am I overfeeding my discus?

[DiscusPamela]

I have 6 juvies, 4 cories and 2 albino plecos in a 55 gal tank. I am feeding them my discus mix 6 times per day. I have 1 marineland HOB filter and a canister filter running. I am changing 50-75% of the water per day and cleaning out prefilters, but my water still has an odor to it after WC's. Is this normal or is it an indication of poor water quality? Sorry I can't give you the water parameters. I'm getting a test kit asap, but right now, it's just not in the budget.

Thanks for any advice.

[lipadj46]

With that heavy of feeding might as well change all the water out daily if you are doing up to 75% now. Is your tank bare bottom? I'm not sure why but my tank will slightly smell after a water change but then after an hour or so it smells earthy like an aquarium should.

[John_Nicholson]

I would guess that yes you are over feeding and not getting all of the uneaten food out. I assume you are in a planted tank? Growing out discus in a non-bare bottom tank is extremely hard.

-john

[DiscusPamela]

No it's BB and the bottom is usually food free when I do my WC's. I can go up to 100% no problem. I guess with such large wc's I expected it to have no odor at all. Fish are doing great so maybe there is no cause for concern?

[John_Nicholson]

If bare bottom I would not expect any odor at all. Does your water come from a well?

-john

[discus143]

Do you have any pre-filter sponges on the filter intakes? If not, you probably have a lot of spoiling food inside your filters. If the intakes are pre filtered then try rinsing them with every water change.

Peter

[DiscusPamela]

Water is city water and I am using pre-filter sponges though the sponges are quite porous and difficult to get completely clean. I am cleaning the pre-filters with every WC.

[John_Nicholson]

Sounds like you are doing everything right. Personally I would slow the feedings down to about 3 times a day. I would also siphon the bottom of the tank about 30 minutes after each feeding.

-john

[8ftbed]

Wipe around under the lip of the tank (if it has one) and see if food hasn't stuck and accumulated. Out of sight, out of mind and you might be surprised the gunk you end up wiping out. That'll cause a stink.

[DiscusPamela]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll up the wc and clean a little more diligently and report back.

[lipadj46]

Wiping the glass including the bottom every few days helps quite a bit

[dash]

Hi. I have had the same problem. I's your water cloudy as well? How long have you had the tank running? What media do you have in the filters? Sorry for all the questions. The water in your tank I's I assume very warm as it should be for discus. This increases the speed of Decomposition of food etc. add stability to your water and don't do such large water changes at one go.


The stability will increase the bacteria in the filter to break down some of the waste. I would. Also add some good filter media seachem matrix etc.
remove any un eaten food 10 min after feeding

Hope this helps.

[lipadj46]

and don't do such large water changes at one go.

You realize what forum you are on? LOL!

[John_Nicholson]

Really bad advice ----------------->"don't do such large water changes at one go"

Please disregard.

-john

[dash]

You realize what forum you are on? LOL!

Please explain