Shan's First Discus Journey

[Shan_Evolved]

Didn't want to alarm anybody, but now that I am all better I wish to share -

3 weeks ago my co-worker got diagnosed with COVID-19 and shortly after, myself and 3 others whom worked closely to him also tested positive. I have been quarantined the past 15 days in my room with my discuses!

As far as symptoms, even though I'm a healthy 20's guy who works out 6 days a week, I still got hit hard. I had a fever, congestion, cough, and severe sore throat. My entire left ear channel all the way down to my throat was heavily inflamed and painful. My wife had be locked in my dungeon with my discus for 11 days straight while I recovered. My co-workers are all recovering as well.

Luckily she did not test positive and I slowly overcame it and am now as healthy as a horse.

My discus are all doing well too. They kept me good company

[danotaylor]

Glad you've recovered Shan! That's good news right there mate

[Iminit]

Good to here! Glad your better!!

[Johnny95132]

Wow, that must have been an ordeal to overcome the virus. Glad to hear that you've recovered from it. TBH, I've yet to have a cold that's as painful as the symptoms you described. Though spending 2 weeks with the discus does sounds nice though.

[tacks]

get well soon Ed

[Shan_Evolved]

Ah, panic attack, but hopefully its gonna be okay.

My sponge filters got swarmed with beefheart and muck, so my super smart self decided to squeeze all 3 (with tank water) to clean them. I'm pretty sure I caused a mini cycle.

I had a reading of 1ppm ammonia, 4ppm NO2, and 20ppm NO3. I was still doing my 50%wc every 48 hours. During this discovery I immediately did a 50%pwc and that lowered the nitrites to 2ppm, but it still seemed pretty dark purple.

I waited 3 hours and did another 50%wc and got the NO2 down to 0.5ppm. I dosed triple PRIME. This was yesterday.

I checked NO2 this morning and it had climbed its way up to 1ppm. My NO3 is around 5ppm after 2x50%wc.

Hopefully the prime is strong enough to keep the nitrites from being toxic while my bb colonies catch up. The discus are still eating and behaving well. Fingers crossed.

[LizStreithorst]

Shoot, I was so looking forward to reading your post after not having seen you say anything for a while. It sounds like you are doing what you can. I wonder if it would help to add some of that stuff in a bottle that cycles your tank immediately? Fingers are crossed for you, Shan.

[Shan_Evolved]

Im talking with cary and he thinks they will be okay.

I haven't posted an update cause of life but I would like to add they have GROWN. I have a bunch that are 4.5" now. Some small ones but I love them all the same. They all still have strong appetites and even let me pet them.

Hopefully the little bump im experiencing right now shouldn't last too long. I'm watching water parameters carefully.

Also I was actually going to get 2 more 4" fish to add to the family. I was planning on cycling a 125 showtank in a few months to transfer them into next year. We'll see what happens one day at a time

[AquaticNerd]

Shan,

I've been following your journey since the beginning, so it's good to see that things are finally working out for you. Your group looks great, and sound like they're really packing on the size!

[fljones3]

I just thought today, what happened with Shan's discus.

[Shan_Evolved]

Ill post a video once the nitrites are under control. @liz good idea, im gonna chuck a bottle of tetra safestart + when I get home, should help.

@jake ive seen your tank man, looks godly beautiful. I hope to have a showtank near that level of finesse

@frank hows your batch doing bro? I haven't surfed around too much in a minute Ill check

[fljones3]

Doing well. I think the largest is close to 4 inches.

@frank hows your batch doing bro? I haven't surfed around too much in a minute Ill check

[Willie]

Just keep changing water, Shan. Don't bother throwing mystery colored water into the tank. Save that money for your next set of discus.

[Shan_Evolved]

Thanks @Willie. Yeah, just a bit annoying cause my NO2 keeps creeping up to 2ppm even after large water changes. Internet not being helpful in determining how much NO2 is safe with lots of PRIME

[Willie]

Unfortunately, neither Prime nor the other chemicals are going to have any effect on NO2 at all. You just need to keep changing water to keep the levels down. It'll slow up the cycle, but save the fish.