Hey all, thanks for the responses:
nigsy said:
It all depends on the filter media.
If the tank itself is clean and you move the filter or the media from your old tank to new.....transfer as much of the old water from your existing tank to the new and fill it up with fresh it will be not much different than a 50% water change. Your existing fish should be fine...just add new fish slowly as with a new tank to give the bio load on the filter medium time to grow.
SeanTrollope said:
just as long as the tank is clean, not leaking, and cycled then it would be fine.
I have spoken to the guy and he said the only reason that he is selling the tank is because he hasn't the time to manage it anymore. But he said it is in amazing condition, and I will transfer water and media from my current tank and let it run for the night before transferring any of the fish and even then I will transfer them slowly I think. I will definitely make sure that all the water conditions are in pristine condition prior to transferring any of them.
attibones said:
I agree with above. I would like to mention that discus and BGKs shouldn't be in a 65. The discus will be better in the 65 longer than the knife but you'll run into serious problems soon with the knife. He needs at least 150 gallons. The discus should be kept in higher number and are not suitable for new fishkeepers. Plus for a decent group, you may want to go larger than what you've got. I'm planning on doing a monster discus tank in a few years (it's my dream tank) but for now you just need to be very careful with your stock.
I would rehome those two species regardless how this move goes. In the meantime, I would set up the 65, make sure it is cycled for your fish load (if you dose at 3ppm ammonia you should be okay), and then do a large water change in that tank, refilling with water from the old tank. Add the fish, add fresh water. It will be like a 50% water change for them.
attibones said:
They are happier in larger shoals though. You also have to take into consideration how delicate they are. Larger tanks provide more room for error. Plus these guys do get rather large. And many 65 gallons are not very tall.
SeanTrollope said:
isnt it a bit small for a blackghost knife ???
Hey Attibones and SeanTrollope, thank you for your comments, and I understand your concerns. Both my Discus and my BGK are only a couple months old, and from my understanding, they have roughly a year to a year and a half even before they reach mature adulthood. For the time being I was told that even the 36 gallon is fine being that none of them are over three inches long. I am upgrading to the 65 for now to give them a little more room. And eventually I do plan on upgrading to a much larger tank.
Attibones, originally I was not going to go with the Discus, but after much research and many questions, I fell in love. I am fully informed on their needs, and I am getting more Discus over time, as to not overwhelm the tank, or the ammonia levels. Eventually they will be in a group of 6-8. I asked multiple fish stores in the area if it was okay to buy them two at a time and they told me they would be fine. I have the pH level at 6.4, and I have tested regularly for ammonia and the results have been at 0 ppm every time except this morning when I checked it and it was at 0.25 ppm, in which case the tank was due for its weekly water change anyways (roughly 10%). After allowing the water to run through for about two hours, I have checked it again and it looks like the ammonia level has dropped even from that. I also check regularly for NO
2- and NO
3- and the results have been 0 ppm the entire time. The chemicals that I use in the water: Tetra FloraPride, Tetra SafeStart plus Start-Up (contains concentrated Aquarium Bacteria), Kordon Ammonia detoxifier and water conditioner, and when necessary to lower the pH, I use API pH DOWN.
When my fish get a little larger I will get a larger tank and will keep the 65 gallon for plants and quarantine. I do not intend on rehoming my fish. I thought a long time about the Discus and the BGK. Seeing that you are so passionate (as are the rest of you on here), I will definitely come to you with questions when I need some help. Aside from the tank size, which will be increased, if there is anything else you see I may be doing wrong for the care of the Discus please let me know! They have quickly become my pride and joy.
Munroco said:
A 65 gal tank isn't big enough for discus? This surprised me so I had a look on a few discus forums. Most say this would be ample for 4-6 fully grown discus.
Munroco,
I was told by a number of local pet stores that the 36 should be okay for two to three full grown Discus and that the 65 should be okay for a small group of six Discus. From everything I have been told the 65 should be great for the time being.
