info needed

[once i was a maggot]

everytime i see a discus i fall in love, i stare at it for ages an want to have some. wat i am asking for anyone who knows anything about them to tell me, because i find the info from this forum alot more reliable and accurate compared to alot of sites found in google. wat i want to know is tank size, how many in the tank, filtration, do they need plants, diet, practically everything, because i want to be prepared.
thanx in advance
damo

 

[SPLiSH]

Good to hear you're researching.

Discus are a fairly large growing cichlid, growing to a max of 6" although 4"-5" is more common. They're considered by most people to be pretty delicate, but with a fair bit of research you'll be fine.

They come from the Amazon river, and are fairly peaceful. They're mainly carnivorous, so supplement their diet with live foods. They like good filtration and very clean water.

Hope this helps!

 

[once i was a maggot]

thanx heaps splish, i didnt no that they were mainly carnivorous, this info is now stored in my head lol
i welcome any more info from anyone else
thanx again
damo

 

[Tolak]

Be ready for maintanance, they need more than most fish. Water parameters & quality are a big thing.

Tolak

 

[once i was a maggot]

thanx tolak
i am becoming aware that they are a task and a half to keep but i am willing to give it my all lol
damo

 

[silvershark]

firstly, well done and good luck, i, too, am starting up a discus tank. Here's what i've learnt, but NOT tried out yet!!

you will need a deep tank, around 24" deep is ok, i got a 27" deep just recently, gonna be getting all the rest of the equipment over the next 6-12 months!!
they are very docile at night so best NOT kept with nocturnal fish (dont know about snails though...) such as clown loach etc
the water temp should be kept in the low 80's
filtration should be very high quality, but NOT fast flowing
subdued lighting is a good idea, try using floating and tall plants with lots of hiding places
this ones tricky, but, ph of wild caught discus should be slightly acidic, around 6.5 is what i've heard, HOWEVER for tank bred discus, you should go see the fish regularly to see how they do in the lfs water and match your water params to theirs
an RO unit is not essential but VERY VERY useful!!
using bogwood will soften the water
and also, dark, ie black, background and substrate will enhance the colours (as with all fish really!!)
keep the substrate as clean as you can, using only a fine layer if possible, some people use no substrate but paint underneath the tank black!!

hope this is of some help!! BUT REMEMBER do lots of research, i havent kept these fish yet as i cant afford the filter i want, and this is what i've learnt from my own research, you may, rightly, contradict my findings!!!

Best of luck

 

[ryan]

Useful site - http/members.aol.com/bgdiscus/wholepag.htm

 

[SPLiSH]

thanx heaps splish, i didnt no that they were mainly carnivorous, this info is now stored in my head

You're welcome. Good luck and try to post some pics when the tank is set up!

 

[simonbrown403]

I keep discus in both a bare bottom and planted tank, bare bottome is easyer but not as pleasing to the eye.

Keeping discus in a planted tank can be problamatic, but can be done if you keep on top of your mantainence and water peramiters. (no slacking lol)

PH depends on your local suplyer, try and match it, an RO unit is not always nessesery, depending on your local water, but water suplys can be unpradictable (ie desolved solids, metals etc which discus are senstive to) keeping this slable is the aim, using an RO unit sort this by coltroling the water peramiters exsactly.

Tank size, i work on about 10gal 45ltrs per discus, a group of six to eight is best as they are sholing specise, so minimum tank is 60gal 270ltrs can be a little smaller with good filtration

temp 28'c

Try these sites loads of usfull info
http/www.simplydiscus.com/library/index.shtml
http/article.discusnews.com/catagory-01.shtml#setup

 

[once i was a maggot]

thanku all so much
yes ive read that barebottom tanks are popular to keep good water params, i dont like the look of this, but i think it is best for me being a beginner with them because hopefully it could make things a little easier.
wat is an RO unit?
this is going to take me a while to setup because im only 16 with a part time job so money is little lol
juz got aussie $335 for work experience tho which should buy me the tank and a nice water testing kit
would a 4ft work if i get a really good filter?
thanx again to all of u who have replied, this helps me so much an i really appreciate it
damo

 

[kamel_007]

i use crushed corals to reduce the PH to 6.5

 

[simonbrown403]

i use crushed corals to reduce the PH to 6.5

Crushed coral would raise th PH ont lower it

An RO unit is a type of filter, used to treat tap water.

Water is pushed through a realy fine menbrein under pressure, the menbrain alows the small water particals to pass through it, but traps the larger particals ie minerails, metals, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, phosphaters, desolved solids all the impuritys that can carse problems with discus.

RO water is about 98% pure h2o, so pure fish carnt suvive in it so u have to reminerlise it with something like kent RO right,

You then have to heat it, and match the PH to the water in your tank, or that of you dealer (if you are a first time keeper) and of you go.

You should ok with 4 disc on there own in a well matured and maintainded tank, It all depends on how much time and work your prepared to put in with your fish and the qualty of the water you use for on your water changes.