Discus in the Eastern Cape

Hi everybody

I am looking for Discus breeders in the Eastern Cape area. LFS usually stock rubbish or overpriced or don't know how to care for them. Is there anybody on this forum that can help?

 

which LFS do you go to in PE?

 

There are plenty, but none that keep any discus worth buying. The only one I trust is Ultimate Aquariums in Walmer. Their fish are great and their advice and service even better. But they only ever get Pidgeon Blood and I don't want those. Other stores - forget it. Fish looks unhappy, sick, etc.

 

Go chat to Chris at Ultimate - tell him i sent you and that he is the only guy in PE that can help you with good discus

 

I want to buy 6 juvis from a breeder and grow them out in bare bottom tank before moving to my main display tank. I don't mind the daily water changes. I have 2 young boys. My evenings consist of chores anyways!

But I am still looking for an economical way to lower pH. Port Elizabeth's pH is 8.5 out the tap. I haven't tested buffering yet, but have had some success with pH Down. The water I've been testing in a bucket with air pump has been stable at 7 for 10 days now but 30l required 30 drops of pH down. You can imagine the task of counting drops of pH down and the eventual cost...

 

I previously dealt with Jeff at Ultimate, but I can speak to Chris too. Thanks for the advice. Will they be getting the fish from you then? I am sorry if I ask a stupid Q, I am new to this forum. Are you a breeder/wholesaler/importer?

 

I import fish food

Chris is the owner and he should be able to sort you out.

As for the PH theres various option. Peat, bog/drift wood, indian almond leaves, citric acid etc....

 

If you have access to rain water, use it! im in East London (way out of the industrial zone) and i used it with much sucess!

 

some reading material

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/water_softeners.php

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/gh_kh_ph.php

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/water_chemistry.php

 

Rain water! When last did it rain here? But maybe I should get a rainwater tank and stock up... when it eventually rains... Slummies I will send you a pm

 

watch out for rain water as it contains acids and poisons now.... the info on rainwater is old. NEVER take any rainwater from your roof as the paint contains heavy metals as well as dust particles that land on your roof......

 

old? it would be if iv never used it, but i have sucess with.

Laure: Henk is correct about keeping your roof clean, but also remember sediment will collect at the bottom so dont stir up the water to much and even better. Cut a 5L water bottle in half. put layers or charcoal and floss this will help purify the water

It been raining in EL quite a lot lately!!!

look forward to your PM!

 

Aaargh. Can't pm! Need 15 posts but with this one I now have 7.

 

Did anybody on this forum come accross this yet?
http://www.fishfantasyworld.co.za/discus_article_breedingdiscus.htm

Hope I can post links. I know some forums have restrictions. Let's see what happens. Here goes...

 

There shouldnt be a problem

I have email them numurous time.. no reply

good luck with the 8 more posts

 

slummies, did you email FF and no response ?

 

Slummies thanks for the info. I will let you know soon. When I can pm...

 

yes. last year some time when i was still looking for quality discus. dont need their number anymore, getting fish from you mate

 

just weird, derek usually replies quick to mails, even though it is just 1 or 2 word replies

 

I was actually referring to the article by Tony Koen. His method of add "pool acid" and maturing the water. Basically adding more acid than the carbonate buffers can handle. Then leaving it standing to see if it remains stable. Seems like a simple and cheap method. I would go as far as adding a pump with an airstone to the maturing water in order to get rid of excess CO2. Then one will probably get a more accurate idea of how the water will behave in a tank. This, of course, if you don't have any plants in the tank or CO2 injection.