most spectacular discus ?

[melbfish20]

A little late and been away - a droping pH often occurs with water that is very soft. Have you checked the water's GH and KH? If these are very low (good for discus as is low pH but bad for the bacteria in the filter) there are substrates that will fix that problem.

The GH and KH was very low.

[melbfish20]

In answer to an earlier question - to get a breeding pair, a min of ten is needed to get a good chance that two will pair off. This assumes you raise them from younger fish. With a 150 gallon tank, fifteen or sixteen is fine (larger tanks allow bending the 10 gal/fish rule. Remember, wood and substrate remove water volume - in smaller tanks, this can be a problem. Your tank, not a serious issue.)

A lot of wood is a good thing - just remember, when they pair off, you will need to either have another tank for them to lay eggs or use a tank seperator screen to keep them from harming the other discus. Also, very young will be food for other discus.

when people say discus need clean water are they talking about a tank that is spotless ? I was just a bit worried about a small amount of waist building up under or behind a piece or drfitwood

[Cermet]

There are two types of discus tanks: clean where water is changed (50% or more) at least twice a week and all waste is removed daily; and then there is the breeder tank - where 100% water changes (or very close to it) are done every - single- day! That is way a breeding tank is bare and has no wood or fake plants.

Very hard to get them to breed unless you do that.

Your pH appears good (6.7). GH/KH is low: that is good for the fish but makes water changes a bit hard (pH can swing.)

If you are raising young, you MUST change 80% or more of the water every-single-day or the fish will never reach proper size. Food (both a quality pellet, frozen, and live brine shrimp) must be given five to six times a day for young, twice a day for adults. Temp should be on the high side (86 - 89 F) for young and 84 - 88 F for adults. These are the basics.