The Importance of Filtration
Discus fish require very high-quality, clean water to be present in the tank at all times. This can be a pain as you’ll often have to replace the dirty, murky tank water with fresh water a couple times a week. In order to help relieve you of this pressure (to a point) it is very important to get a quality filtration system. There are a number of filtration system types to use with some being more necessary than others. Let’s go over a few of them so you can have a better idea for what to purchase for your discus fish tank.
The first, and maybe most popular type of filter, is the chemical filter. This uses various elements that are magnetized to attract and collect debris in the water. Because of the sensitive nature of discus fish, I don’t recommend adding these as the chemicals use for filtration generally don’t sit well with the fish.
Another filtration option is the mechanical filter. This works like a vacuum or water filter does. A pad is used to collect the physical debris that floats around the tank. While nice these aren’t always necessary because of the need to change the discus’s water constantly. They’re fine to own though and shouldn’t be a problem for the discus fish.
The last filtration method is the biological filter. Basically, these filters allow good bacteria to colonize it and absorb or react to the harmful toxins in the water. They also create nitrogen which helps scrub the tank of impurities. A biological filter is a must for all discus fish aquarium owners to ensure the health of your fish.
