Discus

[PaintballFan07]

I want to put sum discus into my 55g with the angels. I am wandering if i could put at least 6 into there if i have the following fish in the tank: 6 juvy angels, 1 common plec, 5 bala sharks soon it will be 2 cuz im giving 3 away to my cuzin. N also do angels in discus like to have the same water paremeters for ex: ph. Both fish do prefer higher temps right? N has any1 ordered discus from this website cuz they are really cheap so im wandering if they have good discus:http/www.discusmadness.com/frames/mainframe.html . i will prob add these fish sumtime around christmas and i may have a magum 350 pro filter system on my 55g. I am waiting to buy discus so i could learn all i need to know about discus: feeding habbits, water paremeters, n waterever else i need to know if u could fill me in on info like this it would be greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[MissClaire]

I wanted to get angels as well as discus...but my lfs said not to have them both so im only getting discus. Im not sure why so we will just wait until a fish guru replies to this topic

 

[parker313]

I wanted to get angels as well as discus...but my lfs said not to have them both so im only getting discus. Im not sure why so we will just wait until a fish guru replies to this topic

It's because angels can carry a parasite that doesn't bother the angel but can kill the discus. Some people are able to successfully house angels and discus, but it can be a risky idea. But yes, discus and angels both like soft, acidic water.

If you want discus, I would get rid of all of the balas. Also, you're going to HAVE to have plans on what to do as the angels and discus grow up. You generally want 10g per angel/discus and the angels alone would be fine, but to add discus in too is likely to cause some major territorial issues down the road.

 

[PaintballFan07]

i forgot to mention that i have 2 dwarf gouramis in this tank also.

 

[PaintballFan07]

So lets say i get a 40g aquarium just for discus only. N i put a sponge filter in it n a bio filter. I will leave the tank runing for a month wiht 3 tiger barbs to let it cycle then orderme 4 or 5 discus. Should i keep the tank bare empty for the juvy discus and also how often should i change their water. i change my tanks water every week. When could i put in rocks, decorations n how. How fast do they grow? more questions to come as soon as i think of them thanks for all of ur help

 

[PaintballFan07]

I wanted to get angels as well as discus...but my lfs said not to have them both so im only getting discus. Im not sure why so we will just wait until a fish guru replies to this topic

It's because angels can carry a parasite that doesn't bother the angel but can kill the discus. Some people are able to successfully house angels and discus, but it can be a risky idea. But yes, discus and angels both like soft, acidic water.

If you want discus, I would get rid of all of the balas. Also, you're going to HAVE to have plans on what to do as the angels and discus grow up. You generally want 10g per angel/discus and the angels alone would be fine, but to add discus in too is likely to cause some major territorial issues down the road.

Sry im just tryin to get my facts straight, mildly acidic means a ph around7.8 or wat sry. thanks

 

[CathyG]

Mildly acidic means a PH of about 6.5

Some info

 

[PaintballFan07]

Mildly acidic means a PH of about 6.5

Some info

thank u. wow 6.5 mine is 7.0 that might be a tuffy.

 

[Doggfather]

So lets say i get a 40g aquarium just for discus only

A 40 gallon aquarium will be too small to house 6 discus. A rule of thumb is 10 gallons of water for one adult discus.

N i put a sponge filter in it

A sponge filter won't be able to handle all the waste of these fish, so you'd have to be doing water changes a couple of time a week to keep the nitires/nitrates down. An external canister would be ideal.

Should i keep the tank bare empty for the juvy discus

Substrate in a discus tank is a debatable topic. With no substrate it's see waste, and clean it off. With substrate, the medium can hold beneficial bacteria, however it's difficult to clean, so in the end it's your choice.

 

[PaintballFan07]

So lets say i get a 40g aquarium just for discus only

A 40 gallon aquarium will be too small to house 6 discus. A rule of thumb is 10 gallons of water for one adult discus.

N i put a sponge filter in it

A sponge filter won't be able to handle all the waste of these fish, so you'd have to be doing water changes a couple of time a week to keep the nitires/nitrates down. An external canister would be ideal.

Should i keep the tank bare empty for the juvy discus

Substrate in a discus tank is a debatable topic. With no substrate it's see waste, and clean it off. With substrate, the medium can hold beneficial bacteria, however it's difficult to clean, so in the end it's your choice.

i know better than to put only a sponge filter in it. I will then put 4 discus in there. I was thinking that a canister filter would be to much for the 40g tank cuz if i do get a cannister i would get the magnum 350 pro system. i will most likely put gravel in the tank, i would luv to have sand but not sure how to take care of it. (wouldnt sand get sucked up by any gravel cleaner along with the waiste) and another more question since my mother will not allow any me to buy a (100g) for the house, that i would buy a 40 like i said b4 n put it into my room i do not have room for a 55g so i thought of a 40, n in my room the most space i have in it is by the tv to the side , would loud noises from tv n surround sound system bother the discus ( any fish in general). thanx

 

[PaintballFan07]

Oh i read on the tff one time about sum1 injecting co2 to lower ph. I tried to search but the forum gave me an error. How do u just inject co2 into ur tank? How much co2 do u have to inject into ur tank b4 ur ph is where u want it to be n how often. I play paintball and i use nitrogen and co2 to supply my guns, and so i have multiple scubba tanks with nitrogen and co2 n will not be a problem to get co2. Are there any natural ways to keep ur ph at that certain level or any other methods besides co2. thanks for all of ur help.

 

[elgecko]

You might want to go bare bottom tank.
After 8 months of having gravel in my tank I'm setting up a new tank for them without gravel.

 

[PaintballFan07]

You might want to go bare bottom tank.
After 8 months of having gravel in my tank I'm setting up a new tank for them without gravel.

ok i prob will. but how do i put gravel into the tank when it is time. am i supposed to put fish in a bucket or sumthin

 

[elgecko]

I would not bother placing gravel in the tank ever.
I had 5 discus 4 1/2" - 5" in a 40 gallon. They make a lot of waste. I gravel vac and change 30% of the water in my tank 2 times a week. I have a fluidize bed and canister filter. I'm not able to keep up the water quality in the tank.
Actually I got rid of 3 discus and I'm setting up a 29 gallon bare bottom tank for my breeding pair that I kept. I will not use gravel with discus again.

 

[PaintballFan07]

I would not bother placing gravel in the tank ever.
I had 5 discus 4 1/2" - 5" in a 40 gallon. They make a lot of waste. I gravel vac and change 30% of the water in my tank 2 times a week. I have a fluidize bed and canister filter. I'm not able to keep up the water quality in the tank.
Actually I got rid of 3 discus and I'm setting up a 29 gallon bare bottom tank for my breeding pair that I kept. I will not use gravel with discus again.

wat is a fluidize bed.