When it comes to discus fish care, one of the most important factors to consider if the condition of the water that you keep them in. Any discus enthusiast will happily tell you that discus fish are difficult to look after because they are a very fragile species of fish, but if you know what you are doing and maintain brilliant water conditions, and then there is no reason why you too cannot keep discus fish healthy and happy for a long time.

In the wild, discus fish live in distilled water which means that the common chemicals which are often added to out water supply can be hazardous to the health of your discus fish. The temperature of the water is also very important because the water needs to be kept at an exact level so that the discus fish can remain happy and healthy. Some discus keepers use RO water, but if you plan on using RO then you should be sure to add minerals back into the water that the RO takes out.

Discus fish which are bred in captivity tend to be able to adapt better to harder water with a pH level of 6.8, unless you are planning on breeding you fish, in which case softer water should be used. Acidic water can be quite beneficial to discus fish because the ammonia in the fish waste is unable to form in pH levels which are lower than 6.9, however if the level drops below this, then the water will begin to convert to ammonium which can be easily tolerated by the fish. A pH water level which falls to around 5.1 can also help to protect the discus fish against toxicity poisoning, however you should never allow the pH level to drop below 5 because this will inhibit the growth of natural and beneficial bacteria.

The best way for you to maintain the quality of water in a discus fish tank is to change the water often, you do not need to completely change the water in the tank to do this, a partial change is sufficient enough, although you should change the water in the tank at least once every ten days to ensure great discus fish care to make sure your aquarium friends thrive.