New tank suggestions

[chemflex]

I've already got 2 tanks. One is 80 something litres (uk) full of barbs, the other is 180 litres (uk) community tropical. I've just ordered another 180 litre (uk) tank, what would you out in it:

I mean, what substrate, plants and fish?

 

[sylvia]

Sand, don't know about plants - depends on circumstances...

Then I'd either make it a badis badis species tank (which I am currently planning - will be 55 gallons) or go for shell-dwelling cichlids or maybe several gouramies - possibly some cories, a bristlenose plec, maybe some kind of tetra (black phantom most likely) or danios or harlequin rasboras or some otos and lots of pearl gouramies... or maybe I'd put in a RTBS and lots of tiger barbs like one of my old tanks. It depends realy Might even make it a gourami grow-out What are your plans for it?

 

[chemflex]

Well, I'm after something completey different from the othee 2 tanks. I was thinking a some black coral sand. Some lush green plants, maybe java fern (not too sure yet). A large shoal of neon tetras, some corys as bottom feeders and some discus. Not too sure how many discus I could have though?

 

[sylvia]

Discus have been known to eat neons - though not always. Normaly you'd keep discus in at least a group of 5 - how many gallons is 180 litres? Probably around 45? I'd say a breeding pair would be best though you might be able to get 4 in there. Personaly I'd say 55 gallons is better for discus but it depends on a lot of things.

 

[blue_ram]

Well, I'm after something completey different from the othee 2 tanks. I was thinking a some black coral sand. Some lush green plants, maybe java fern (not too sure yet). A large shoal of neon tetras, some corys as bottom feeders and some discus. Not too sure how many discus I could have though?

Planted tanks throws couple of extra variables to the equation; you need to learn how to keep plants alive. You must consider the fish-plant compatibility in addtion to the usual fish-fish compatibility. You also need a right balance of fish and plants and plan everything in advance.

If you are serious about a planted tank, then best way to do this is by deciding on the lighting first. Then you should find the plants that would do well under the decided lighting level. You shouldn't mix fast growing, bright light plants with slow growing, subdued light plants. Substrate shouldn't matter too much though. Fluorite or Eco-complete should work well. I use Eco-complete because I didn't want to wash Flourite.

Once the aquarium is planted to your (and plant's!) liking, slowly add a few fish. Make sure the fish are compatible with plants. You need to keep the nitrate level even lower than the fish only setup. It's not as hard as it sounds, because plants will help you keep the nitrate down. But you need a very accurate nitrate test kit to ensure that the nitrate/phosphate level stays low. 40ppm of nitrate may be ok for fish, but in planted tanks, your plants will be overrun by algae.

Planted tank offers some unique rewards. Plants do more than add natural beauty to the tank; it will instill some courage into timid fish, and allow all fish to act much more naturally.

 

[chemflex]

My other 2 tanks are planted

 

[CFC]

Coral sand is not the best choice of substrate unless you are planning to make the tank brackish or for African rift valley Cichlids as it will raise pH, KH and GH to levels unsuitable for most tropicals and especially soft water species like Discus.

In a 180L tank i wouldnt recomend more than 2 Discus which should either be purchased as a pair or picked out of a group of 6 juviniles and the remaining 4 returned to the LFS as soon as two of them establish a pair. Neons are unsuitable for Discus tanks as they cannot tolerate the high temperature that Discus need to remain healthy, cardinal tetras or rummy nose tetras make a better choice.

If you are serious about keeping Discus may i recomend that you research them a lot before even thinking of buying them, Discus are one of the most difficult species to keep and require a lot more care than anything you have kept before. You must be prepared to do water changes of 50% at least twice a week and use R/O water for water changes if your tapwater is not suitable, Discus require their water to be soft, acidic and nitrate free, ideally pH 6, KH 4, GH 4 and Nitrate 0.

 

[chemflex]

Thanks for the info CFC, I already use RO water for my other tanks. I've read many posts on here and all of them say just to do weekly 25% water changes with discus, now I'm getting confused?!

 

[sylvia]

Discus need excellent water quality so the more water changes the better - though I think a lot of the difficulty with keeping discus is exaggerated and just giving them suitable water conditions (correct pH, temp. etc) are enough.

 

[CFC]

Thanks for the info CFC, I already use RO water for my other tanks. I've read many posts on here and all of them say just to do weekly 25% water changes with discus, now I'm getting confused?!

I recomend 25% weekly water changes for normal fish, with larger, messier or more delicate fish i recomend 2x25% water changes a week.
Since Discus fit into the large messy and delicate categories and yours will be kept in a relatively small tank you will need to double this to 2x50% water changes a week to keep the nitrates and dissolved organic solids down to reasonable levels. In a larger tank (80g plus) you could keep this down to just one 50% water change a week.

Remember, you can never change too much water.