Random thoughts of Discus

[decula]

Some notes from me. If you disagree or have additional
comments, feel free to chime in.

1. when other fish people say be wary of chemicals, they
generally mean antibiotics. Do NOT fear worming chems.
They can be your best friend. My little guys had white
poo for a while and were not growing well. Al's plan
of Prazi followed by Levamisole works.

2. I found a nice chem scale on Amazon for about $38 that
is good down to +- 2 mg. You have a couple of tanks,
you probably need one. Watch for:
American Weigh Gemini-20 Portable Milligram Gem Scale 20 X 0.001g

3. There is a USB Microscope around for around $100 (QX5)
that is fun to play with. You went over the edge when
you start looking at your fish poo. Snapshots can be
shared when you need expert help.

4. You found SimplyDiscus - you are off to a great start.

5. Nicholson is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.
I don't know what all those comments about his
pretty legs are about.

6. Get used to water changes. Oh, and buying RO/DI unit
takes 4 times longer for very little (no?) return.
Just watch the ph, chlorine/chloramines and temp
and you are probably golden.

You can get a decent chlorine test kit from:
http://www.inkmkr.com/Fish/ItemsForSale.html
Just to verify your not poisoning your friends.


7. Discus TV with your honey in the evenings makes it
worthwhile.

8. Trying to start out with a planted tank AND Discus as
a nooby is probably a no-no. The 2 are mutually exclusive.
Plants don't like water changes, Discus need water changes.
You stir up the substrate to clean it and you make your
fish sick. Not good.
Several people on Simply have *beautiful* planted tanks.
It is possible, I'm just saying if you are starting out it's
probably better to take it in baby steps.

9. In the time you read from #6 to here, it's time for
another water change.

10. Hans needs to sell more fish. And he's a great guy if you
get the chance to talk to him.
http://www.twofishguyz.com/

11. if you didn't pay attention in #8, it's probably time
to ask Eddie for help. He's answered nearly everyone's
cries and hasn't held any punches. One of the guys thats
*earned* a lot of respect on SD.

12. There ain't no such thing as free discus, unless they are
in the Amazon area.

13. Time for another water change.

14. I'm sick. Dan Espinosa had pure prazi at nada2010 and it honestly
made me giddy. An SD Sponsor:
http://www.eliteaquaria.com/

15. I found a use for Everclear that I had in the closet for 10 years,
dissolve prazi in it first before adding to the tank.
I wouldn't recommend this in Oklahoma, giving alcohol to
fish is against the law.

16. if your friends get glazed over eyes when you show them
pictures of your pidgeon bloods or red turqs, you probably
have convinced them that you are nuts. They may be
right.

17. water

18. angelsplus has a lot of different flake feed. my guys tear into
Steve's Beefheart Flake. He also has some good medicated
feed.
http://www.angelsplus.com/StoreSupplies.htm

19. Ken's fish is a good supply of heaters, air pumps, lights, food,
etc.
http://www.kensfish.com/

20. I'll leave more hopefully latter. After the water change.

21. To follow brewmaster15s' advice, you'll need Levamisole at
some point in time. David Rose is the man. And a SD sponsor.
http://www.igopro-online.com/

22. sony could clean house if they made a water changing robot

23. shhhh! dont tell! home made beef heart food is made with ....
hamburger. If I ate at BK and gained 50 lbs, imagine what
it'll do for Discus. King of the Aquarium, indeed!

24. some folks say that salt is bad, you never see it in the amazon.
I can testify that it helps sick fish by making life miserable for
bacteria/fungus. I don't know what the longer term effects are,
probably just accustoms the bugs. It's *great* as a dip to help
your finned friends feel better when they are sick.

25. velvet *sux* period. 4 drops of ~30% formalin and a tablespoon
of salt in a 1 gallon dip works wonders (for 15 minutes).
This is probably good for ich, as well. 10 gallon hospital tanks
are wunnerful as long as you don't use them for regular homes.