Lights and discus.

[dash]

Hi guys hope some one can help me.

I am growing out 9 discus in my aquarium. I added a thin layer of sand as I found that the reflections were seriously giving them a hard time. They eat well and are growing well. The tank has know background but is against a white walk. Now for my problem.

These fish do not like any light above the tank. If lights are off and only room lights are on or natural day light they are fine. They will eat and go about the tank just fine. The moment I turn on a small 20w lamp they swim in to one corner and just stay there. I have tried different color lamps, added different backgrounds etc. what can I do?

[dash]

Sorry guys I meant wall

[Chicago Discus]

Some Discus get sensitive to light for different reasons. What I would do is cut a window screen to the diameter of your light and filter the light with the screen. It should diffuse the light enough for them to get comfortable and start swimming around.....Josie

[dash]

Thank you so much. Any ideas as to what material I could use for the screen?

[lipadj46]

Mine hate lights, I'm sure I could get them used to them but I don't really care that much about lights yet. When I put together a display tank then yes there will be light

[dash]

I was also thinking about some floating plants however its a grow out tank so I was not sure.

[Crunchy]

If they hide dont turn off the lights. After a while they will get used to it. That has been my experience.

Also turn on the lights slowly, natural window lights first, room lights, small light and then main lighs.

[Len]

How long have you had them? I often see people giving advise to diffuse the light with window screen and other methods, but usually you just need to give them time. I wouldn't suggest a spotlight on them or anything, but have them adjust to you instead of you adjusting to them. They usually come around without needing to jump through hoops for them :)

[dash]

Had them for about 2 months now. Just added a 2w floresant tube that is making them hide.

[dash]

Sorry 20w

[strawberryblonde]

They'll adjust to the light eventually. For mine, I had a group who hated light because they'd been in a non-lighted hospital tank for several months, so I used a 20w light that sits on top of the tnak and just put a piece of yellow paper underneath it. You can tape the paper on the bottom of the light if your light doesn't sit on the actual tank top. It's a cheap fix as a diffuser and a 20w won't heat up enough to burn the paper.

Once they get used to the papered light and are out and about, go ahead and remove the paper.

[jaykne]

I use tin foil and slowly and make it smaller and smaller till it is just straight light, but in most cases I can just turn it on for a couple hours for the first couple days and by day 4 or 5 can leave it on.

[REC]

Mine hate lights, I'm sure I could get them used to them but I don't really care that much about lights yet. When I put together a display tank then yes there will be light

Who's in charge the fish or you? lol http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?107057-Discus-Hans-Flake-Food

I have my 110g lit up like a christmas tree with over 150 watts of Led's from Ecoxotic. My adults aren't phased by it at all. The shimmer and glow it puts off is amazing. I had a similar system on the young adults I grew out. Have never seen any fish be this sensitive to light.

[lipadj46]

Who's in charge the fish or you? lol

My fish quite obviously LOL!

sent from an undisclosed location using morse code

[White Worm]

They will be fine with the lights.

[dash]

Thanks all for helping me out. Much appreciated

[hillbillyamber]

Who's in charge the fish or you? lol http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?107057-Discus-Hans-Flake-Food

I have my 110g lit up like a christmas tree with over 150 watts of Led's from Ecoxotic. My adults aren't phased by it at all. The shimmer and glow it puts off is amazing. I had a similar system on the young adults I grew out. Have never seen any fish be this sensitive to light.

Can you post a picture of your lighting and tank? Thanks

[dash]

It's very hard to get a good picture but here goes. Will take a better one http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/20/2a9eheta.jpgtomorrow. They seem ok with lights now.

[dash]

The wall at the back does not help with the picture

[khoiluu]

you should train your discuses get on well with lighting gradually

[dash]

Update. Discus are fantastic and are doing fine with the light. Going to have to move them soon. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/19/pupy7u5u.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/19/demegugu.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/19/6ebureby.jpg

[Fish from Philly]

Mine were skiddish when I got new LED light. I dimmed it down and increased it week by week. Eventually they got used to it.

For floating plants, Water Sprite is great because it eats nitrates fast and provides cover. Not bad looking either but since for grow out tank prob doesn't matter..

good luck!

[dash]

Yes it's just a grow out tank so I am not to worried about how it loons. But they seem to be doing just fine. Thank you

[dash]

Update time. It's been a while

[dash]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/21/ga4eba8e.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/21/mabyjyqy.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/21/8ebypa7y.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/21/guna6yhy.jpg


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[Len]

I really like the one in the top photo.

[dash]

Tx can you I d them?


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[trungnguyen]

I have the same problem with my tank. When I turn on the light (only 2 bulbs), all discus stay at one place and not swimming around. When I turn off the light, they swim everywhere
I used papers to cover the light, and it helped a bit, but I want to do something else not paper in the long run.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/21/ypa2a8an.jpg



Trung.

[pcsb23]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/21/ga4eba8e.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/21/mabyjyqy.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/21/8ebypa7y.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/21/guna6yhy.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Tx can you I d them?


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkTop image is blue diamond at the top, one at the front may be a turk or a leopard (it's blurred so ...) look like leopards at the back. 2nd image is a red turk, 3rd image a blue diamond, last image a cobalt.


I have the same problem with my tank. When I turn on the light (only 2 bulbs), all discus stay at one place and not swimming around. When I turn off the light, they swim everywhere
I used papers to cover the light, and it helped a bit, but I want to do something else not paper in the long run.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/21/ypa2a8an.jpg

Trung.Looks like a T5 fitting, try and get hold of some ND gel (photo stores/lighting rental stores) and apply that - it will reduce the output, if it is still too bright use more! (btw ND gel is a plastic film that you would tape on, ND = Neutral Density - it is used in photography and film making).

[trungnguyen]

Thanks so much. I'm gonna try that


Trung.

[dash]

Thanks. As they grew the lights are not an issue

[ryandis]

Can I ask something about light n discus?
I has 6 discus in a group with 55 gal tank. If light on, they beak to smaller discus. Biggest one bully to smaller n smaller bully to smallest. If light off, they r a good n friendly group. What should I do? Any suggestions?

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