keeping discus healthy at lower temp

[gr8nguyen1]

i posted this question in the wrong thread. so here it is again. my tank right now is at a constant 82-83 degrees. i don't know why i cant keep it steady i guess i need a better heater. but any how, i want to know if it is healthy to keep discus at this temp. the reason why i ask is because i've got other fish in the tank right now and they seem to be doing ok. i don't want to raise the temp because they might not make it. so would keeping 5 adult discus at 82-83 degrees be ok for them to thrive. i've read that i should keep them at 85-86. but i've also read that domestic bred discus are highly adaptable. so has anyone kept them at the temp currently in my tank right now?

[Eddie]

That temp is fine BUT if your heater is at max setting and struggling to keep it at 82F, I'd watch out for it sticking on and frying the tank. Get a stronger heater IMO.

Eddie

[mmorris]

How many watts is your heater and how big is your tank?

[gr8nguyen1]

i have a 200w in a 75 gallon tank. the lfs guy told me i need to get a 250w

[waters10]

Maybe it would be better to have 2 heaters, instead replacing yours with a more powerful one. This way, if one of them sticks on, it won't be powerful enough to cook your fish.

[KEWX]

Add a second heater!

[nc0gnet0]

+2 on the second heater, I would go with a 100-150 Watt heater, and I would shoot for 84.5 degrees temp. I would rather see your "other fish" a tad high in temps (but not extreme) then your discus a tad on the low side.

[gr8nguyen1]

i think thats a good idea. ill go out and buy another 150 w heater tomm.
hopefully the fish currently in the tank can handle 84

[mjs020294]

82-83f is just fine in a community tank. Discus are fine in temps between 79-86f, you will only have problem going outside that range for long periods of time. Unless you are breeding or the fish are sick (not all illnesses) then 82-83f would be the perfect temperature.

[gwrace]

i have a 200w in a 75 gallon tank. the lfs guy told me i need to get a 250w

I run two 150 watt heaters in all of my 75 gallon tanks. More than adequate heating capacity.

[Eddie]

82-83f is just fine in a community tank. Discus are fine in temps between 79-86f, you will only have problem going outside that range for long periods of time. Unless you are breeding or the fish are sick (not all illnesses) then 82-83f would be the perfect temperature.

79F is too low, anything below 82F is not recommended.

[LizStreithorst]

79F is too low, anything below 82F is not recommended.I agree with not going below 82 except for brief periods. I keep my Discus at 82 to 84 and do WC with 79 degree water. Have for years. They do well.

[prolude006]

Eddie
why is below 82 not recommended? I had my discus at 84-86f and they were pale, really angry towards each other and breathing rapidly it seemed, so I saw a bunch of suggestions to keep breeding pairs at 81-82 so I went with it for the tank and my fish are extremely vibrant with color (not faded colors). they dont bully as much now and they are not breathing rapidly now. should I go back up in temp or is what im seeing just temporary? I am curious if there is a difference in temp that asian fish are raised in versus the german strains and natural wild discus in the amazon waters?

David

[Eddie]

I agree with not going below 82 except for brief periods. I keep my Discus at 82 to 84 and do WC with 79 degree water. Have for years. They do well.

Definitely Liz, I do the same as you. ;)


Eddie
why is below 82 not recommended? I had my discus at 84-86f and they were pale, really angry towards each other and breathing rapidly it seemed, so I saw a bunch of suggestions to keep breeding pairs at 81-82 so I went with it for the tank and my fish are extremely vibrant with color (not faded colors). they dont bully as much now and they are not breathing rapidly now. should I go back up in temp or is what im seeing just temporary? I am curious if there is a difference in temp that asian fish are raised in versus the german strains and natural wild discus in the amazon waters?

David

David, if your fish are doing well at 81F...keep doing what you are doing. ;)

[mmorris]

I recommend roughly 5 watts per gallon, divided between two heaters, minimum 82 degrees and wc's within one degree.

[Darrell Ward]

I have one Jager 250 watt heater in my 75 gal. Heckel tank. It holds a steady 86 no problem. It'll go much higher if I wanted. I would buy a new Jager 250 watt from Ken's Fish for twenty some bucks if it were me, and be done with it. :) You don't need 2 heaters on a small 75 gal. IMO.