Figuring out these discus

[Cichlids]

I can't seem to figure out these discus. I had 8 and lost 2 they all seemed energetic and then 2 of them went into the corner and went almost black and stopped eating then died. I now have 6 and have noticed that a couple are doing the same thing again. However they all eat like crazy when I feed them and I also noticed that they have a pecking order on who is the top of the chain. Here is some pics of what I am dealing with.

20160520_130111.jpg

They go nuts eating

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This guy is the top of the chain I have noticed

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...520_132454.jpg

When they see me they go up to the front of the glass

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same thing when I sit down.

I am not sure if the clown loaches are causing them stress. I don't see them constantly harassing them all the other tank mates leave them alone. I plan to move them out with the rummy nose tetras and corys at month end into an aquascaped 105 gallon I am doing. I hope this helps. I would post a pic of the discus when they go black but since the back of my tank is painted black you can't really see them.

I do 50% water change 5 out of the 7 days a week.

[Akili]

When Discus turn dark , it's a sure sign of stress or disease and since you have lost some, disease may have been the cause.You will have to medicate all of them.Move them all to a Quarantine tank.

[nolefan]

What's your water schedule change like ? What type of filtration are you using ? Do you soley feed frozen bloodworms ?

[LizStreithorst]

Their environment isn't ideal. It might be a water quality issue.

[Akili]

I do 50% water change 5 out of the 7 days a week.

What's your water schedule change like ? What type of filtration are you using ? Do you soley feed frozen bloodworms ?

Their environment isn't ideal. It might be a water quality issue.

Water quality issuse with a schedule like that OP did mention "I do 50% water change 5 out of the 7 days a week."

[Cichlids]

The water is quite hard here. They will not be in that tank for much longer before I move them over. The new setup up will have fluval canister filter w/o carbon with an inline uv sterilizer follow by a CO2 injection inline on the output side. Right now I am just running a aquaclear filter. I feed them bloodworms/pellets/flakes/brine shrimp and beefheart.

[Akili]

Mike a couple of suggestions when you do your new setup insert a foam on the intake of the fluval canister filter and do not use CO2 in the night.

[Filip]

Transfer them in a QT-BB tank and change 80-90% water daily , siphon the poop and food remaining after eating .
Give them a couple of weeks with this regime and they will recover .

My guess is that dirty substrate and maybe dirty filters causes bacterial and nitrate issues , and the only thing that compensates a bit and keeps discus alive are frequent WCs that you preform.

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Mike, part of the problem you are having so being a beginner with discus and maintaining them in a planted tank. If you are new to both it would be best to learn the skill sets separately (planted tank and discus) and combine them in the future. I doubt the new setup is going to help you maintain the discus well. Do a little research on both and see what you think.
Pat

[Cichlids]

Mike a couple of suggestions when you do your new setup insert a foam on the intake of the fluval canister filter and do not use CO2 in the night.

I have it set on a solenoid that has a timer that works at the same time that the lights are on. No light No CO2.

[Cichlids]

Hi Mike, part of the problem you are having so being a beginner with discus and maintaining them in a planted tank. If you are new to both it would be best to learn the skill sets separately (planted tank and discus) and combine them in the future. I doubt the new setup is going to help you maintain the discus well. Do a little research on both and see what you think.
Pat

been reading this forum and I don't see myself keeping may fish in the new setup

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showth...ed-Discus-tank

[Cichlids]

Transfer them in a QT-BB tank and change 80-90% water daily , siphon the poop and food remaining after eating .
Give them a couple of weeks with this regime and they will recover .

My guess is that dirty substrate and maybe dirty filters causes bacterial and nitrate issues , and the only thing that compensates a bit and keeps discus alive are frequent WCs that you preform.

I think that the loaches are also a stress factor for them and they will soon be removed as well. I might start doing 90% daily next week I just need to move the heater and filter intake down to accomadate such large water changes.

These fish are not like anything else I have had over the past 30 years.

[Las Vegas]

I agree with Pat. 1st learn the water conditions with the fish in a bare bottom tank. Doing a planted tank is an experienced level of Discus keeping. In a planted tank your Discus will seem fine in the first few months but then "surprise"! illness, sickness and death just instantly happen. And really it's because a beginner discus keeper didn't learn about proper care. Goodluck.

[Las Vegas]

Oh I have 4 Discus with 2 clown loaches and 2 tiger loaches in a 40 gal tank with no problems.

[LizStreithorst]

Just wait...I don't know about tiger loaches but clown loaches grow very large. They are also very active. They are not good tank mates for Discus.