Discus-any Advice

[emsvaughan]

I have just shut down my reef tank, and have the 260l 4ft aquarium empty.

My wife has asked for larger fish, and I would like a showpiece tank with plenty of plants. This has been in the planning stages for a few weeks, and I have bought an Eheim professional external, hydor external heater, and a pressurised CO2 set up. The tank has 4 39w T5 tubes, which will need replacing as they are marine tubes.

How many Discus can I have in a tank this size, 5, 6?
I know I need to have some dither fish, but not keen on cardinals as everyone seems to use those.

I will be planning on carrying out 2 x 20% water changes per week.
Should I use RO, or will normal tap water suffice? I am in Devon and our water is pretty soft.

Thanks in advance

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I have just shut down my reef tank, and have the 260l 4ft aquarium empty.

My wife has asked for larger fish, and I would like a showpiece tank with plenty of plants. This has been in the planning stages for a few weeks, and I have bought an Eheim professional external, hydor external heater, and a pressurised CO2 set up. The tank has 4 39w T5 tubes, which will need replacing as they are marine tubes.

How many Discus can I have in a tank this size, 5, 6?
I know I need to have some dither fish, but not keen on cardinals as everyone seems to use those.

I will be planning on carrying out 2 x 20% water changes per week.
Should I use RO, or will normal tap water suffice? I am in Devon and our water is pretty soft.

Thanks in advance

Most you would want to go is 7 Discus.

I wouldn't worry about R/O water, what ever your tap is should be fine.

Two things. First, Discus for the most part don't grow properly in a planted tank, especially if changes are only twice weekly. I would definitley recommend purchasing adult fish. Lastly, make sure the tank is cycled. Purchase all your plants and fish and let the tank run for a few months before putting the Discus in.

 

[s007]

Carrying out 2 x 20% water changes per week is enough but not fully try to push it at least to 30% if thats all time you have or can have. Remember the more waterchanges you do the faster they will grow (much faster) and waterquality for Discus is number one rule.

I must dissagree with DiscusLova regarding "Discus for the most part don't grow properly in a planted tank" Theirs habitat Discus are most commonly found in dense planting and wooded areas in slow moving rivers and backwaters in the Amazon river system. There for i dont see how can it be true ? Discus like when the walls of the tank are covered with plants and have a large open front swimming area.

 

[emsvaughan]

Thanks guys.

I will definitely be buying adult fish, or at least 4" fish, at least I can tell they have been feeding. I dont intend putting any Discus in for a while, as I want to set the tank up and get the plants growing firt. I have the Eheim currently running on my other freshwater tank to mature it, and will be fishless cycling the Discus tank.

I can do 2 x30% water changes or 3 x20% per week, I just think its more important to do little and often, rather than one large one per week.

I have to admit, the majority of quality Discus I have seen, have all been in a heavily planted tank, with good open swimming spaces in the front, they look secure and healthy.

 

[s007]

I sell 2 of my discus at the moment 1 about 3.5-4" High Body Blue Diamond and one smaller about 2.5" Blue diamons you can have them both for 50 Pounds all in good health feed on beefheart and live brine shrimps

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I must dissagree with DiscusLova regarding "Discus for the most part don't grow properly in a planted tank" Theirs habitat Discus are most commonly found in dense planting and wooded areas in slow moving rivers and backwaters in the Amazon river system. There for i dont see how can it be true ? Discus like when the walls of the tank are covered with plants and have a large open front swimming area.

I'm sorry but you don't know what you are talking about. Although you are half right about their natural habitat, Discus can be found in various parts of South America normally with sunken branches and lightly planted (although different areas/rivers are different.) but a planted river is different then a planted aquarium the rivers/bogs etc. down there are always getting lots of clean water fed into them. The reason why they don't grow well in a planted tank is because it is much harder to keep it spotless. Debris will collect in the gravel that you are going to miss cleaning.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Thanks guys.

I will definitely be buying adult fish, or at least 4" fish, at least I can tell they have been feeding. I dont intend putting any Discus in for a while, as I want to set the tank up and get the plants growing firt. I have the Eheim currently running on my other freshwater tank to mature it, and will be fishless cycling the Discus tank.

I can do 2 x30% water changes or 3 x20% per week, I just think its more important to do little and often, rather than one large one per week.

I have to admit, the majority of quality Discus I have seen, have all been in a heavily planted tank, with good open swimming spaces in the front, they look secure and healthy.

I would definitley go for 3X20% changes. I am glad you are getting big Discus to begin with, they will do much better in your aquarium. Just to get my point across, take a look at these fish, I can assure you they where not grown in a planted tank.

http/www.discusclubsg.com/events/aquaram...s/class4-1L.jpg
http/www.discusclubsg.com/events/aquaram...s/class1-2L.jpg
http/www.discusclubsg.com/events/aquaram...s/class5-2L.jpg
http/www.tedsfishroom.com/wp/wp-content/...discus_0011.jpg
http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/image/4865.jpg



See where I am coming from?

 

[s007]

Dont want to argue but there is no way you can say that plants dont sute discus ONLY because its hard to clean derbies? The pics you showed are NOT a main show tank they are small breading /keeping tanks i can get 1000's of them by google

So my point PLANTS do not effect in growth of discus and you seem not to get my point but state regarding not having full access to cleaning tank. Im new to Discus only had them 2 years or so read about 6-7 books based on the only! And none of them state something regarding not having plants while keeping discus but rather encourage to plant your tank as in plants help with water quality and discus feel more secure.

Serg

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Dont want to argue but there is no way you can say that plants dont sute discus ONLY because its hard to clean derbies? The pics you showed are NOT a main show tank they are small breading /keeping tanks i can get 1000's of them by google

So my point PLANTS do not effect in growth of discus and you seem not to get my point but state regarding not having full access to cleaning tank. Im new to Discus only had them 2 years or so read about 6-7 books based on the only! And none of them state something regarding not having plants while keeping discus but rather encourage to plant your tank as in plants help with water quality and discus feel more secure.

Serg

I didn't say Discus do not suite plants at all. I am only saying that a dirty tank isn't good for Discus, especially young fish who will get stunted. Do you honestly think those fish were grown out in a planted tank? Because again, I can 100% assure you, those where not grown out in a planted tank. Plants in itself, do not effect the growth of Discus, but gravel that is needed for plants will. If you want plants and have juvy fish the best way to do it is attach java moss and such onto pieces of driftwood, this way you can have plants and also keep the tank BB so easier cleaning, once the fish are adult size with great eye proportion and body shape then feel free to go fully planted.

I should write a book then, which accurate information, and make lots of money.

 

[s007]

Before "Discus for the most part don't grow properly in a planted tank"
Now "Plants in itself, do not effect the growth of Discus" Now we getting there its just for newbs so they get the correct point that problem not itself in plants but rather in gravel as having limited access to clean it

You shuld write a book ... and if you do can i be the first one to read it ?

 

[emsvaughan]

Well I am not going to get involved in an arguement, BUT, I have spoken to a reputable dealer yesterday, and he has never heard anything about not keeping them in planted tanks, and plants affecting their growth, in fact he said, to allow the Discus to thrive, they need the security of the planted aquarium (as most fish do).

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

You shuld write a book ... and if you do can i be the first one to read it ?

For sure!

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Well I am not going to get involved in an arguement, BUT, I have spoken to a reputable dealer yesterday, and he has never heard anything about not keeping them in planted tanks, and plants affecting their growth, in fact he said, to allow the Discus to thrive, they need the security of the planted aquarium (as most fish do).

Don't worry its not an argument just a debate.


Let my guess, a LFS told you this? If you can, try to get your fish from a breeder (if possible.) A breeder specializing in Discus will have Discus with far superior quality compared to the LFS Discus.


If you don't believe they will get stunted in a tank with GRAVEL then I guess you have to see for yourself.

As you planted tanks allowing Discus to thrive, I think that is complete rubbish. I have my Discus in a bare bottom tank, they are always begging for food and dash to the front of the tank when they see me. The only problem so far, is that they are starting to get really aggressive as they enter adulthood.

Just waiting for other Discus keepers to chime in and agree with me

 

[Jim Curtis]

Before "Discus for the most part don't grow properly in a planted tank"
Now "Plants in itself, do not effect the growth of Discus" Now we getting there its just for newbs so they get the correct point that problem not itself in plants but rather in gravel as having limited access to clean it

You shuld write a book ... and if you do can i be the first one to read it ?

DL is right. Its difficult to raise young discus too their potential in a planted tank. They just do better in boring old sterile barebottom clean tanks. Its been proven a million times over. If you bothered to do any research outside of asking some guy at your fish store you would have known that. Its all over the internet.

Edit: im not saying people dont do it all the time, and im not saying you shouldnt try it if you want to, im just saying its not the best way to raise discus. If your goal is to have a nice planted aquarium first and to have nice fish second then by all means, do it your way.

 

[emsvaughan]

Well I am not going to get involved in an arguement, BUT, I have spoken to a reputable dealer yesterday, and he has never heard anything about not keeping them in planted tanks, and plants affecting their growth, in fact he said, to allow the Discus to thrive, they need the security of the planted aquarium (as most fish do).

Don't worry its not an argument just a debate.


Let my guess, a LFS told you this? If you can, try to get your fish from a breeder (if possible.) A breeder specializing in Discus will have Discus with far superior quality compared to the LFS Discus.


If you don't believe they will get stunted in a tank with GRAVEL then I guess you have to see for yourself.

As you planted tanks allowing Discus to thrive, I think that is complete rubbish. I have my Discus in a bare bottom tank, they are always begging for food and dash to the front of the tank when they see me. The only problem so far, is that they are starting to get really aggressive as they enter adulthood.

Just waiting for other Discus keepers to chime in and agree with me

It was actually from a very reputable local breeder.