EI with discus

[Ziggy]

I’m keeping discus in a planted tank. These fish require frequent water changes.
How would it be if added the macro’s on day 1. Trace on day 2 and 50% water change on day 3. This cycle being repeated

 

[Edvet]

1)The amount of light controls the amount of growth and thus the amount of salts needed. Lower light means less ferts.
2)Using Darrel's "duckweed index" ( using a fast growing floater to indicate fert levels) can also allow to fert 'lean'
3) Most discus care more about "cleanliness" then amount of salts, your scheme will help with that

 

[alto]

Depends on the discus really
Wilds, I’d definitely not subject to EI levels of fertilizers ... while they might appear OK in the short term, I suspect there will be long term complications

Filipe Oliveira contest tank - very lean water column dosing




(he also speaks on this in the recent Aquarium Gardens Aquascaping event (AG have a summary video))

 

[Ziggy]

Thanks, they are not wild discus. My thinking is that with large, frequent water changes, there would no opportunity for the nutrients to build up naturally.
I’ll use 1/2 the recommended doses and see what happens.

 

[Harry H]

@Ziggy

Any updates on the discus tank? Are you still dosing EI?

Cheers
H.

 

[Ziggy]

Yes I’m still using this dosing method with no problems

 

[Jayefc1]

Looks really nice mate are you doing the redime you said above

Cheers
J

 

[Harry H]

Yes, it looks great!

I cannot see in the photo, do you inject CO2?

 

[Ziggy]

Took this today, yes still using CO2 but only 1 bubble per sec. Now doing about 70 % water change every third day. Only difference is I’ve changed from buckets to a hose. Makes a difference.

 

[Harry H]

Do you use tap water? HM Filter? Do you preheat water?

Sorry for lots of questions, just setting up a discus tank myself and trying to learn more.

 

[Ziggy]

I’m lucky I live in the west of Scotland with very soft water. I use preheated water, straight from tap adding Prime.

 

[Harry H]

Hmmm, I have hard water here, trying to find the best way to handle the water changes.

 

[Ziggy]

Sorry I won’t be able to help. Never needed an HM filter, straight tap water all the time

 

[Harry H]

Thank you nevertheless