Discus newbie cycling question
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Welcome Morgan!
You have found the best place to get information and support from people who are passionate about discus. This is an amazing place to learn and hang out with others who share this hobby from all over the world. I have made many great friends here. We are kind of like a big crazy family. Some of us are louder than others but we all love these amazing creatures.
I am not an expert. Only a year in- but since no one has jumped in yet I will get you started.
The first thing everyone will ask you is have you tested for nitrite and nitrate? That will tell you where you are in the cycle. If you have no readings you have a ways to go. The time between the nitrite and nitrate is the longest. When you begin to show nitrate your cycle is complete. Six weeks is about the average to cycle a filter. These are small fish in a big tank. I am not sure if they are able to contribute enough waste to get the cycle going quickly. I am sure someone else will jump in with this...When you add discus to the tank there will be a spike in ammonia from your bacteria needing to grow to handle the new load and you will need to do large daily water changes to keep the discus healthy. Nitrates should not get high with Discus. The target would be to not let them get much more than 5 ppm. Large water changes will not be damaging the bacteria since they live in the filter and surfaces of the tank and not in the water column. Clean, stable water will be your key to success here. Large water changes will be needed. Unfortunately there is no way around it. The amount and frequency is somewhat individual once the discus are adults but young fish will need lots of clean water. Making your routine as simple and painless as possible will enable you to keep up with them.
What is your water source- municipal or well?
Another very important factor is your Ph. Have you tested that? It is not the value itself that is the most important but the stability between the tap and tank. The best way to test for this is to test right out of the tap and then age some water in a clean container with an air stone for 24 hours and test again. If the Ph is the same you will not have to age the water. If there is a swing you will need to age it before you do your water changes. More info on that can be found in the water works section.
There will be different points of view on this way of cycling a tank for discus using live fish. Many choose to go the fishless route to avoid possible contamination of the discus when they are added. Again, there is plenty of information on that in the water works section.
Have you read posts in the beginner's section? There is a great video that is packed full of information that the forum owner Al, has done. I always suggest this for new Discus keepers. It is well worth the investment in time to watch.
What else is in your tank? Do you have substrate? Plants? What size discus are you planning on?
Another key to success is read as much as you can here. The stickies in each section are full of valuable information. Ask lots of questions and chose your fish from a known sponsor here. Many have made the mistake of starting with substandard fish from their local fish stores or other suppliers and have heartbreak from day one.
One more thing I always advise since I never did this -is go to the journal section and document your tank as it evolves. It is amazing to follow and look back after you have had them awhile and can see them grow and change.
Again, welcome! Read as much as you can here and keep asking those questions. Pics are always welcome too. We love pics.
Originally Posted by wsdiscus
I don't think I have ever been able to pull that off. You must have been charging your phone! 
