Para guard

[mr limpet]

Has anyone had any experience with Seachem Para Guard. It has been recommended to me by a friend who has been keeping Discus for years. Problem is with my Blue Diamonds. They’re very dull looking. Almost dark. They eat fine, and their poop is ok. They swim fine and interact with my red melons just fine. They’re in a 90 gallon with 5 red Melon discus and 2 golden nugget plecos. Friend says they have a bacteria issue and the Para Guard should take care of problem and colors should come back.

[danotaylor]

I haven't ever used it...how old are the BD's? They can fade out as they get older...

[BrendanJ23]

I’d start with upping water changes before adding any meds...

[mr limpet]

Actually this guy told me to cut back on my water changes and gravel vacuum. I do 2 water changes 50% each time. Plus gravel vac each time. He said I’m stirring up bad bacteria each time I gravel vac. This is totally against everything I’ve been thought for over 40 years of fish keeping. He also said I have too much filtration. It’s a 90 gallon tank with a Fluval FX5 and 2 Aqua Clear 110s filtering it. Said I have too much bacteria. There’s good and bad bacteria.

[14Discus]

With all due respect to your guy’s advice........wrong. Your filtration is fine and really can’t be too much. Gravel vacuuming is always a good idea. If you vac regularly, you’re barely disturbing things good or bad. Bad stuff (gases, nitrates, and bad bacteria) will build up wo the vacuuming. My regular vacuuming barely stirs up anything when I do my WCs. It’s unclear how often you do your two 50% changes, but regular WCs are a must.

Btw......in my 75g tank, I have two AC110s, a large sump, an algae scrubber, nitrate reactor, and a refugium for my filtration. Actually, I have the same for my 55g tank as well minus the refugium.

Regarding Paraguard, I’ve used it very successfully in the past, but more for Ich/external parasites. Seachem makes pricey, but quality stuff. Do follow their directions exactly for best results. I really like the fact that it’s gentle on the tank (most external parasite issues require a whole tank treatment as opposed to a hospital tank due to various stages of the parasite life cycle), yet effective. If u have shrimp, though, avoid using.

[mr limpet]

I do my water changes 2 times a week. I have a lot of drift wood in my tank. Whenever I do gravel vac it seems to stir up some particles. I thinking it’s from the wood.

[mr limpet]

0D1380B3-7DBA-4546-B001-75BE28F16A11.jpeg4FDAB4E8-93EA-4D42-9EF1-0FD5D66CA7ED.jpegheres a pic of them