Discus

[ajs2294]

3x2x2 would work but foot print is a long more important. A decent sized group would do best in 4 foot+

 

[stephen.h89]

ok so what about a 4'x3'x2', thats 680 ltrs and gives the footprint needed

 

[rdp50734]

What size discus were you planning to get? When would the upgrade be coming? A 180l tank is workable with discus up to a certain size in my opinion. ie you would not need a 600l tank for 6 x 2" discus! Remember the recommended tank size is 10 gallons per adult discus. If you are provided with the information you can make an educated choice for yourself.

 

[markandhisfish]

the 1 discus per 10 gallon is pretty much just a blown up version of the inch per gallon rule imo. if your discus reach their full potential of 9 or 10 inches ( you have to see a discus this size to appreciate just how big it is) then 10g for such a fish suddenly doesnt seem like much space at all.

also a 4x3x2 really wont be any different to a 4x2x2 in terms of stocking levels as all that extra volume is just tank height and noit extra footprint. its the footprint which is most important , the extra foot in height will just be a waste of money if you ask me .

 

[stephen.h89]

i meant 4'L x 3'W x 2'H, and i am not sure which discus i would be after, i was kinda hoping for some1 else to point me in the right direction with that, ie. what species and how many of each would be ok in the tank described.

oh and upgrade will be ordered next wednesday and can take 3 weeks to make so about 4 weeks time

 

[markandhisfish]

ahh 4 long 3 wide 2 deep? now thats a nice footprint . as for the discus themselves its all down to personal taste at the end of the day. but best way is to get all your discus in 1 go and all from the same source . other discus can still be added later on but these will need to be properly quarentined 1st.

 

[stephen.h89]

but would adding 10 discus not be too much bio load? i kno u can add 10 tetras or gupies in 1 go but as discus are very sensitive i thought that may have been too much

 

[markandhisfish]

not at all as long as your filters are properly cycled . just keep an eye on your water and you should have no problems at all

 

[stephen.h89]

ok kl, would 10 be ok in the tank described, and what is an average price for a discus?

 

[markandhisfish]

id say 10 would be fine in that tank. price varies really depending on size strain etc . but you get what you pay for . find yourself a reputable breeder/supplier . expect to pay anywhere from £20 for small juveniles up to 50 to 70 for adults depending on strain.

 

[stephen.h89]

thats about the price i was hoping u would say, are there any strains i should avoid, ie if a certain strain has known problems or any hybrid strains?

 

[markandhisfish]

as long as you make sure you start with healthy stock then there arent really any domestic strains that are " to be avoided" basic care is exactly the same . for 1st time discus tho i would avoid wilds as they are a different ballgame alltogether.

where are you based?

 

[GShorty1981]

I have a friend who is a breeder/Importer who was selling 2.5" Discus for £10, not sure if he posts but I'm sure he does, will look into it for you if you are interested, he uses this forum his name is 'Seanie'

I saw some of his adults in person and they were very nice, however I'm not a pro with Discus strains, I have only ever kept Blue Turquoise's in the past (I kept 3 about 5 years ago)

 

[stephen.h89]

i am based in bedfordshire, and yes i would be very interested in that if u could get him to contact me that would be great

 

[markandhisfish]

to get your discus to show their best colour ( besides the obvious water quality) use a light substrate and a light to neutral background colour ( i use a blue) . discus are very good at darkening to match their surroundings and if you use light substrate / background your fish will show much better colour .

i am based in bedfordshire, and yes i would be very interested in that if u could get him to contact me that would be great

ahh bedfordshire , good stuff youre roughly 50 miles from leicester ( depending where in bedfordshire you are of course) check these guys out they have some truly top quality fish .

http/www.leicesterdiscus.co.uk/index.htm