Jayy
04-11-2016, 02:27 PM
Hi folks,
I've been reading the stickies and posts about breeding discus for the last week and trying to combine all this knowledge into a plan. I have a pair of turquoise who have spawned once already and in the coming weeks I'd like to get breeding tanks setup.
I don't actually know that this is a male and female yet, since in my DT none of the eggs hatched. I have 1350 GPH cycling through this tank along with two large airstones so it's not a good environment for fertilization, and my water is somewhat hard as well. I suspect it's not two females though since the total amount of eggs was not a whole lot (maybe 80?) and if two females both laid them I suspect there will be more. But, nevertheless, I need to confirm it's an actual breeding pair.
Assuming it is a breeding pair, my plan is to setup a separate breeding tank for them. I'm thinking a standard 40 gallon barebottom tank with a pair of sponge filters. Then I'll setup a 55 gallon tank for the fry to grow out in, also with a pair of sponge filters. For both I'll use a combination of RO water and tap water to keep the TDS down. I'll shoot for about 80 ppm in the grow-out tank.
I've read that I can take the eggs away from the parents once fertilized, and raise them separately. I'm wondering, what makes this method better than allowing the parents to raise the fry? Pros and cons etc.
I've been reading the stickies and posts about breeding discus for the last week and trying to combine all this knowledge into a plan. I have a pair of turquoise who have spawned once already and in the coming weeks I'd like to get breeding tanks setup.
I don't actually know that this is a male and female yet, since in my DT none of the eggs hatched. I have 1350 GPH cycling through this tank along with two large airstones so it's not a good environment for fertilization, and my water is somewhat hard as well. I suspect it's not two females though since the total amount of eggs was not a whole lot (maybe 80?) and if two females both laid them I suspect there will be more. But, nevertheless, I need to confirm it's an actual breeding pair.
Assuming it is a breeding pair, my plan is to setup a separate breeding tank for them. I'm thinking a standard 40 gallon barebottom tank with a pair of sponge filters. Then I'll setup a 55 gallon tank for the fry to grow out in, also with a pair of sponge filters. For both I'll use a combination of RO water and tap water to keep the TDS down. I'll shoot for about 80 ppm in the grow-out tank.
I've read that I can take the eggs away from the parents once fertilized, and raise them separately. I'm wondering, what makes this method better than allowing the parents to raise the fry? Pros and cons etc.