Preparing for Discus

Finally my filter is good and I am ready for discus. As discussed earlier my angels will go into another tank. How do I prepare the tank for the Discus, in other words get rid of as much pathogens as possible without killing the remaining fish, plants and filter bacteria. I was thinking of running the tank at least 2 weeks after angels have left, before introducing the Discus. The remaining fish are 3 baby Ancistrus and 9 rummy nose tetra and some odd plants. Was thinking of doing a metronidazole or a methylene blue treatment and then doing a big water change a day or two before adding discus. Or possibly just daily water changes for a week without any medication.

Any ideas?

 

Hi Christo,

I would advise that you do a metranidazole treatment and then a large water change before introducing your discus.

Methylene blue actually belongs on the museum shelf of aquarium keeping in the previous century, and should be completely scrapped from any considerations as a medication. Most pathogenic bacteria are completely resistant to it, it is harmful for the beneficial bacteria in a biological filter, it leaves residues that leach into the water and it has a negative effect on fishes.

Kind regards, Dirk

 

Thanks prof!!