DISCUS---

[Never2Bknown]

I have a fifty gallon long tank that I would like to turn into a discus aquarium. First, however, I need to know how; all the info you can give me on this fish and the conditions it needs would be GREATLY appreciated!!!! Here are a few of my questions:

a. How many discus could I get?
b. What conditions do they need (salt, temp, etc.)?
c. What kind of lighting is best for them?
d. What should they be fed?
e. What would be a good algae eater/bottom feeder for them?
f. Is there anything else that I should know?

Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Ok, I'll answer as best I can seen as though I looked and there's been no replies yet. I am ot an expert though...

a. How many discus could I get? 4 IMO, they do best in higher numbers but unless you want to sell on this would be good. I have 4 in a 60US
b. What conditions do they need (salt, temp, etc.)? 80-87F, salt not required
c. What kind of lighting is best for them? dull, they get shy in bright tanks
d. What should they be fed? live food and Tetra Prima granules work for me
e. What would be a good algae eater/bottom feeder for them? something that likes warmer temps, perhaps loaches or small plecs
f. Is there anything else that I should know? they like a shoal around them as in the wild, tetra work well for this, I am going to try glass cats. They are not as hard to keep as most think IME

I know this is not great or new info but no-one had replied and I looked. I have not had my discus for long but they are doing great.

HTH

~ Dana ~

 

[G_Sharky]

Make sure you get good quality and healthy Discus or you will end up with and empty wallet and big dissapointment.... I used to have 6 most of them i got from an LFS and they didn't survived... . I only have 1 discus left that I actually got from a local breeder and it's thriving, I have him for almost 6 months now and he's almost fully grown and he's by itself on a community tank(check my sig). It would also help alot if you are using RO water and for water changes I suggest you get a barrel fill it up, put and air stone and heater on it(same thing as your tank). The reason for this is that Discus are very sensitive to water conditions and by doing this your ph will remain stable and you could do large water changes.....Ohh yeah be prepared to do alot of water changes if you want healthy DIscus....lol....Goodluck....

 

[Never2Bknown]

I have well water--hence, I also have a water softener. Would the water softener add too much salt to the water? From what I've read, discus like a pH of 6.8. Is there any way to treat the water to get it to that pH or something?

By the way, what is RO water?

 

[G_Sharky]

RO water means reverse Osmosis, It's kinda like spring water but much more cleaner and filtered...Don't worry too much about the ph, my ph is around 7.4 and my discus is doing well...Like I said it's important that you have a stable and constant water parameters that's why most Discus keepers aged their replacement water....

 

[David]

I have 1 pigeon red discus in my community tank, have had it for about a week and a half. It's great! A lot hardier than people think. I keep the temp constant at around 82-84, his tankmates (as listed below) are a betta, 2 platies, 2 clown loaches, and 3 otos. I feed them flakes, sinking shrimp pellets, and frozen brine shrimp. He is doing great and very healthy. I am getting him a buddy as soon as my tank settles down a bit.