New Discus Tank

jaywings19

Fish Crazy
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Well, my 72G (US) just finished fishless cycling. I want to get some fish this weekend. This tank is ultimately going to be a Discus tank... but I know that it's not advised to put Discus in a newly cycled tank in case it's unstable for the first few weeks/months. Therefore, I'd like to get some other fish that could be added now... that would also be compatible with the Discus (when added later).

The current tank parameters are: 84F and 6.2 pH

I was planning to get:

5-6 Corydoras Sterbai
7-10 Cardinal Tetra
7-10 Rummynose Tetra
1 Gold Nugget or Zebra Plec

Would that be too much of an initial stocking level for a newly cycled tank? I want to make sure that I get enough fish to maintain the cycle... but not too many to overload it.

A few months down the line, I was planning to get around 5 Discus (4-5").

Any thoughts if I'm planning this situation correctly? Suggestions would be appreciated.
 
Great to hear the tank has finished cycling! :)

Down to business :lol:

I'd scrap buying the cories all together and buy some other type of catfish, maybe even a group of loaches?

Same with the cardinals, i'd personally forget them and buy a even bigger group of Rummy Nose Tetras (which will look spectacular). As for the two plecs, i'd go for the GN, Zebra are quite expensive, and it wouldn't be wise to add them to any tank until it has been matured for a long time. When stocking Discus, just remember an adult should have about 10 gallons of water to itself.

5-6 Corydoras Sterbai
7-10 Cardinal Tetra
7-10 Rummynose Tetra
1 Gold Nugget or Zebra Plec

Do you plan to keep this fish with the discus? or have them in the tank until the discus arive, then remove them?

Dogg :)
 
Okay... let me answer your questions:

1. I've really wanted those Cory Sterbai for a long time and have heard that these are really the only corys that can tolerate the higher temps that Discus require. So I'd rather not scrap them.

2. Cardinals or Rummynose... either way it doesn't matter to me... so if you recommend Rummys, then that's cool with me. How many 10-12?

3. I'd prefer the Gold Nugget over the Zebra myself as well. The only thing that concerns me is I've read that GN's can be aggressive towards other bottom dwellers (ie.. my corys)

4. Yes, I want to stock with fish that will co-exist with my Discus... hence why I'm concerned about compatibility and overstocking now.

Thoughts?
 
Well I think you plan if fine personally, Corydoras Sterbai can live happily with Discus and is considered the only one to be able to tolerate the higher temperatures of Discus live for a long period of time. You can choose to have either to shoals of fish, the Rummys and the Cardinals or just the Rummys, but thats upto you. The Golden Nugget isn't a problem either.
 
Corydoras Sterbai can live happily with Discus and is considered the only one to be able to tolerate the higher temperatures of Discus live for a long period of time

Thats the second time i'v been corrected about Cory's with discus, i'll try not to let it happen again :lol:
 
I have 2 peppered cory's that is living with my Discus and they are doing great inspite of the high temp and occasional salting. I would get those cory's but make sure they are not sick when the Discus arrives, and the GN and rummynose would look great....If I were you I would get a huge shoal of rummy's like 20 or more, they would look amazing.... :D
 
you need to add the fish slowly, not all at once. the bacteria needs to have time to keep up withthe bio load of the tank.
 
also keep in mind the zebra plec is not an algea eater. if thats what you want the plec for.
 

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