Do I need to use an air pump in my Discus aquarium?

Question

I am setting up my aquarium for discus, I have a Fluval 3 + filter do I need a pump as well? Also how often will i need to do water changes? and how do i do this...i.e do i need to soften the water before it goes in? ect
Thanks

Answer 1

Please make sure you do all your research thoroughly before investing in Discus. I'm sure you already know, but they are very delicate :)

You don't need an air pump, no, but I would get a hang off the back filter OR a canister filter. Those internal filters aren't great, and discus need pristine water conditions. A good canister filter would be a really good idea; they come up frequently on craigslist.com. An HOB filter would add some oxygenation and some extra filtration. In your position, I would go with an HOB and a canister filter, and ditch the Fluval 3+.

You will need to do weekly water changes, about 25% per week.

As for softening the water, well, water is very hard to soften. Water softening products generally don't work because hard water has a high buffering capacity - so while the hardness and pH will drop for a day, they'll climb right back up.
You did not specify what your current pH and kh (carbonate hardness) are? If your KH is low and general hardness is low, you can drop your pH using a Carbo-Plus block or a CO2 canister. If your hardness is high, you're going to have to look into an alternate water source. Distilled water mixed with tap water can be a good idea. Distilled water by itself isn't a good idea because it is lacking in electrolytes and minerals.

Answer 2

For the best answers we would need additional info about your tank, the size, etc. but for starters...

No, you don't need a air pump. I would suggest you situate the output of the Fluval so that it stirs the top of the tank. This should provide all the oxygenation the tank will need.

You don't say what your water conditions are, so I would say the first thing to do is match the tank to the water conditions the Discus will be coming from. Same pH, similar KH and GH. Then you can add the fish much more easily. From then own, you will need to match the water going into the tank to the water in the tank, assuming it's what the fish should be in. Remember, the pH etc can change over the course of a week and if the pH were to drop from 6.8 to 6.2 in a week you would want to add the new water at near 6.2 and then adjust the tank SLOWLY back to 6.8 ... or where ever you want it. Hardness is far less critical to match even for Discus, but of course they do best in soft water so I would keep the GH very low and the KH fairly low, but not bottomed out. You need a little KH for pH buffer to prevent it from dropping too far too fast.

Be sure not to use a water softener that uses salt or other sodium to soften the water. All those do is replace calcium for sodium. That does nothing for the GH and lowers the KH to practically nothing, exactly the opposite of what you want to do. The best thing for softening water for Discus is an RO unit and use that water to dilute your tap water.

Best of luck with these wonder fish. Need more help? feel free to write.

Answer 3

air pump is not rely needed the water should be changed once a mounth put some water in a CLEEN pail let stand for 48 hrs take out no more that 1rthd of the tank then put water from pail back to tank slowly when the water is like that it warms up and the cemicals are gone but you can get stuf from the pet shop to wake it go faster

Answer 4

you need to read up on the subject, i would say yes to the pump but i don't think that you will need to change the water unless it becomes contaminated.
but get a book from the library

Answer 5

it might be an idea to get a book on them or ask them were you are going to get them from

Answer 6

yes

Answer 7

DO FISH DROWN IN AIR ???????????