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Thread: new to discus hobby

  1. #1
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    Felix Catano

    Default new to discus hobby

    Hello all;
    I am new to keeping discus fish, my current experience is with reef tanks and saltwater fish, but I am thinking on getting into the discus fish hobby.
    I have read some material about keeping discus especially the water quality but what I don't seem to find is the tank filtration setup.
    What is the most successful or I might say common tank filtration setup?
    sump or no sump? ETC
    I will like some opinions from anyone that wants to share their setup.
    I am planning to have a 90 gallon tank but as of now I don't have a freshwater tank setup, but I learned that patience pay offs and once I know enough I can start planning for a good sound tank setup for the discus.

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Registered Member Jenene's Avatar
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    Default Re: new to discus hobby

    Hi Felix, welcome!

    There is not really a best way here. You’ll get all kinds of passionate answers. I’ll tell you what I chose and why. You’ll see the other replies and then you can decide what will work for you. I also have a reef tank by the way. Discus came first. Then I decided to try my hand at reef. A little over a year in on that one now. But I digress..

    I had a community tank before the Discus and I had a canister filter. They work great. I have nothing against them. However my personality is... out of sight, out of mind. Those things can sure look clean on the outside!!!! On the inside, without regular maintenance they become nitrate factories. My poor community fish were the hardiest creatures ever. I knew I needed the Discus dirt to stare me in the face. I needed to be able to see the nasty stuff. Also knowing by the time you see it, it’s already too dirty. The sump is by far... for me... the easiest solution for filtration. You can just reach right in there. My tank is a 75 gallon cornerflow with a 20 gallon eshopps sump. I wouldn’t go with that brand again just by how it’s set up but it does the job. Others will have very good points on their methods. You will learn the pros and cons of each and be able to make an educated decision for your situation.

    You can also check out the water works section. Should be tons of useful info there..
    http://forum.simplydiscus.com/forumd...35-Water-Works

    Read as much as you can. Years and years of experience in this forum. It’s the perfect place to be for learning and exchanging ideas about Discus and anything else under the sun.. Blue cheese, beer and cats seem to be popular lately...

    You have the right attitude about patience. Good clean water and good stock will set you up for success.

    Enjoy and welcome to this big crazy family!
    Last edited by Jenene; 06-10-2018 at 08:57 AM.
    "You can't trust water: Even a straight stick turns crooked in it." -W.C.Fields

  3. #3
    Homesteader Adam S's Avatar
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    Default Re: new to discus hobby

    Quote Originally Posted by fdcatano View Post
    What is the most successful or I might say common tank filtration setup?
    Daily siphoning and water changes. After that, it's personal preference but no amount of filtration will replace water changes.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: new to discus hobby

    Discus pro don’t filter, they man up WC!

    Jk aside ppl around here run sponge filter +100% daily wc... so,,,

  5. #5
    Administrator and MVP Dec.2015 Second Hand Pat's Avatar
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    Default Re: new to discus hobby

    Quote Originally Posted by fdcatano View Post
    Hello all;
    I am new to keeping discus fish, my current experience is with reef tanks and saltwater fish, but I am thinking on getting into the discus fish hobby.
    I have read some material about keeping discus especially the water quality but what I don't seem to find is the tank filtration setup.
    What is the most successful or I might say common tank filtration setup?
    sump or no sump? ETC
    I will like some opinions from anyone that wants to share their setup.
    I am planning to have a 90 gallon tank but as of now I don't have a freshwater tank setup, but I learned that patience pay offs and once I know enough I can start planning for a good sound tank setup for the discus.

    Thanks in advance.
    Hi Felix and welcome to Simply. Filtration for a discus tank is really no different then for any aquarium. It is really up to the discus keeper and what they are familiar and/or comfortable with. The thing that is different with discus is their need for clean water. I do suggest you visit the beginners section and do some reading. Check out the stickies and ask questions. We want you to be successful with discus
    Pat
    Last edited by Second Hand Pat; 06-11-2018 at 08:05 AM. Reason: Added name.
    Your discus are talking to you....are you listening


  6. #6
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    Felix Catano

    Default Re: new to discus hobby

    Thanks Jenene, I am getting the feel of what's needed the only thing in my mind right now is that the tank needs biological filtration, correct? in that aspect what exactly is it used in this hobby?
    Bio-balls,ceramic, refuge, canister, chemi pure blocks, activated carbon?
    I am trying to the get the picture in my mind of what is the basic discus tank should look like.
    thanks for all the advice.

  7. #7
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    Default Re: new to discus hobby

    I just started in discus a few months ago I went with a sump and love it it’s easy to maintain and keep clean . I do a little over 50% daily water changes and clean and alternate sock filters every 2 days and clean my sponges and filter floss every month or 2 just to get the bigger stuff out . I also wipe out tank with paper towel every day and Syphon bottom of tank to get the waist of the bottom

  8. #8
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    Default Re: new to discus hobby

    16824D52-EC62-4179-8DEF-579F3FD2C627.jpgthis is my sump
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Kfactor; 06-26-2018 at 11:07 PM.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: new to discus hobby

    Quote Originally Posted by snxtif View Post
    Discus pro don’t filter, they man up WC!

    Jk aside ppl around here run sponge filter +100% daily wc... so,,,
    2 thumbs up

  10. #10
    Registered Member Pices's Avatar
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    Default Re: new to discus hobby

    Quote Originally Posted by Kfactor View Post
    I just started in discus a few months ago I went with a sump and love it it’s easy to maintain and keep clean . I do a little over 50% daily water changes and clean and alternate sock filters every 2 days and clean my sponges and filter floss every month or 2 just to get the bigger stuff out . I also wipe out tank with paper towel every day and Syphon bottom of tank to get the waist of the bottom
    That’s one nice sump!
    Patty
    If the discus are happy, I’m happy

  11. #11
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    Default Re: new to discus hobby

    Thanks I built my new setup I love having the sump area as nice as the tank or try too .

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