Discus

[stephen.h89]

yh, i kno discus are more work but i actually think they look better, even tho my tank will be marine ready as i will still have a sump on it for extra volume and will probably have a constant water change run off an RO system if that would be enough water change for discus, i would have 100gpd RO kit so would prob be a 50gpd water change.

Well, it all depends on what you like! I personally fail to see the appeal for Discus, and even the recent influx of posts about them have not even slightly swayed my opinion I personally do not feel they are worth all the extra work - even more than marine - but that's just my opinion and no baring on anyone elses

what would be better, 4'L x 3'W x 2'D or 6'L x 2'W x 2'D, they both have a 12' square footprint but the 6' is 1 litre more in volume.

This is for Discus? I think they'd prefer the extra length. I think with Sevs/Oscars etc they would prefer the width as they are such chunky fish, so like the turning room. I don't think D get chunky though, so would probably pick the extra length if they could

ok thanx for that mate, i will eventually get a marine tank setup but i just prefer the look of discus so i will get them and when there water change system is running i will have the time to get things together for the marine tank

 

[ChilliPepper]

Cool

Where are you ordering your tank from?

 

[stephen.h89]

Cool

Where are you ordering your tank from?

http/www.poseidons-palace.co.uk/

 

[stephen.h89]

this may sound stupid to experienced discus owners but could i keep an arowana with them?

 

[kizno1]

this may sound stupid to experienced discus owners but could i keep an arowana with them?

The tanks not big enough. I think evan the smallest type gets 2 foot but i could be wrong. Evan if the tank was big enough i dout they would like the temps discus need.

 

[markandhisfish]

even with 10 discus? if so could i keep 20 cardinals and 20 black widows?

yes easily youd be surprised how little space 40 cardinals takes up. imo a shoal of 10 would look lost in such a big tank. get these before your discus tho and only add the discus if the cardinals are still doing well after 2 or 3 weeks. ( see below for the reason why))

but at £2.50 each thats £62.50 on tetras

You might be able to sort out some sort of deal with them if you but a load at once. Or just split it up and buy groups of 10 at a time. If its a one of lfs not a chain theres more chance of them doing a deal with you for them.

not a good idea to do it like this unless you have a qt tank. cardinals are particulary suseptable to ich when 1st introduced to a tank and this would then spread to the discus . far better to get the big shoal in one go , add them to tghe tank , and if after 2 or 3 weeks there is no ich then you know its safe to add the discus.

 

[stephen.h89]

thanx mark, when tank is here i shall spk to lfs about a deal on 50 cardinals, could i also have say 10 cory's and maybe 6 khuli loaches aswell?

 

[markandhisfish]

yes you could have the corys for sure but they would need to be sterbai corys due to the high temperature. not sure about khuli loaches as thats a fish i know absolutely nothing about .

 

[stephen.h89]

a kuhli loaches maximum size is 4" and they like temps between 78 - 82ºF (25.5 - 28ºC)

 

[kizno1]

I would go for more corys over the loaches. With only 6 in a tank that size you will barely ever see them. Alot of people complain about not seeing them in a 5G but in a tank this size your not going to see them very often at all.

 

[markandhisfish]

they may be ok . discus can be kept at 28 , so i see no real reason why khuli loaches shouldnt work. take my bolivivan rams as an example. now officially my tank is too hot for them but my 2 are positively thriving so with the khuli loaches high range being in the discus lowish range it could work .

 

[stephen.h89]

ok scrap the kuhlis, what about 20 corys, or is that 2 much

 

[stephen.h89]

what is better, RO or HMA, i will have it constantly running into my tank with an overflow to the drainage system so water changes wont be required as often

PS: sorry for all the questions

 

[ajs2294]

what is better, RO or HMA, i will have it constantly running into my tank with an overflow to the drainage system so water changes wont be required as often

PS: sorry for all the questions

For discus HMA is adequate and on a constant flow system will work better. But you'll want a instant digital pH monitor as constant streams can turn bad fast.

 

[markandhisfish]

in a 4x3x2 id say no not too much at all , corys like to be in big groups , and dont really bother anybody. in my 4x2x2 i used to have 13 so in a 4x3x2 or 6x2x2 whichever you end up buying you could easliy have 10 or more corys