Planet Fish

Natural Habitat for Discus

Discus fish are typically found in floodplain lakes and flooded forests of the lowland Amazon River basin and some of its tributaries, such as the Rio Negro. These areas are subject to extreme changes in water level due to seasonal flooding. Discus fish usually gather around fallen trees, known as “galhadas”, along the shore. They prefer quiet water and are rarely found in areas with strong currents or waves.

Discus Water Requirements

Discus fish thrive in warm, soft, and acidic water with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. The hardness of the water should be between 1° and 4° dKH (18 to 70 ppm), and the temperature should be maintained between 82° and 86° F. However, wild Heckel discus prefer water near 90° F. To maintain the appropriate temperature, use an Aqueon Aquarium Heater. 

While captive-bred discus can survive in dechlorinated tap water, it’s recommended to use reverse osmosis or deionized water supplemented with Aqueon Water Renewal to provide the best environment. When purchasing discus, it’s essential to inquire about the water chemistry they were raised in. 

Discus fish require pristine water quality, and to ensure that, it’s highly recommended to perform weekly water changes of 10% to 25% using an Aqueon Aquarium Water Changer or Siphon Vacuum Gravel Cleaner. Before refilling the aquarium, be sure to treat the tap water with Aqueon Water Conditioner. 

Discus Behavior/Compatibility

Discus fish are usually peaceful and calm, but they can show aggression towards each other, especially when they are trying to mate. If you have shy or submissive fish that cannot compete, it’s advisable to remove them from the group.

Most serious hobbyists prefer not to mix too many other species with discus fish. However, some suitable tank mates include cardinal tetras, neon, emperor and rummy nose tetras, clown loaches, and dwarf cichlids like rams and Apistogramma species. These fish can tolerate the high temperatures and low pH/hardness required by discus fish.

Our Facility

We have decided to construct a facility to breed discus fish using linebreeding techniques. Our initial goal was to breed the best-looking discus fish, but as the newest generation in our farming family, I suggested we implement aquaponics in our facility to eliminate the issue of NO3. I have been struggling with NO3 for a long time through regular water changes, but I didn’t want to use denitrification resins. Therefore, aquaponics seemed to be the best solution, as it is more eco-friendly.