Help! I just bought discus!

[Vyache]

Well I went and did it. The guy at the fish store had a special running on 1.5 inch discus at $9.99 USD. I bought two even though their tank is not ready. I put them in a 135 gallon tank with a community of loaches, bala sharks and dwarf gouramis. The tank is not too crowded, most of the fish are still small and there are plenty of hiding places. It has a pH of 6.8 negligable ammonia and nitrites and has a temperature of 82F. None of the fish stores in my area have water hardness tests except in $50 combo kits. I had them order seperate tests but they are not in yet. I do 20% water changes twice a week.

Are my fish doomed? I've been reading about massive water changes, are these necessary in a huge tank like this? My tapwater pH is 7.6. Will the fish be ok in the community tank for a couple weeks while I establish their 55 gallon corner aquarium, or is it better that I start a bare tank now? I've got a ten gallon and an extra heater, I could use some water from my 135 and start massive water changes tomarrow. I could get some pH down from the hardware store and put some in a five gallon bucket to age overnight, then do a 50% water change every other night.

What should I do? I'm panicing here! By the way, they've been in the community tank for about an hour now and they actually look more comfortable there than they did at the fish store.

Help!

 

[RedTurquoise]

Good deal? Well, maybe! What strain of discus?

Do not worry about ph and hardness as it is not as important as consistancy. I would not start messing with the water parameters (that was recommended to me by many breeders).

My growout tank ph is 7.6 and I use tap water that is aged 24hours, heated, aerated and treated for chlorine/chloramines. I do 90-95% daily water changes. The reason you must do massive water changes is for increased growth. Small discus require very clean water, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, very low nitrates.

Are my fish doomed? I've been reading about massive water changes, are these necessary in a huge tank like this?

Depends on your test kit readings!

? My tapwater pH is 7.6. Will the fish be ok in the community tank for a couple weeks while I establish their 55 gallon corner aquarium, or is it better that I start a bare tank now?

Better to leave them in your established tank than stress them out in an uncycled tank submitting them to ammonia/nitrites.