Setting Up For Discus - Advice Please.

[jonny]

Guys.

I have recently set up a new tank that i would like to use for some discus. I was thinking of four with other tank mates.

The tank size is 200L (picture below) and i would love your advice on how best i should proceed in making sure it is suitably set up.

At the moment it has just finished cycling after about 8 weeks. I currently have 14 lemon tetras, 4 corys and a bristlenose in there.

Stats are

PH 7.2
Amonnia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 15
GH 13
temp 28 c

What i do not want to happen is to put them in and see the poor things die within a week so i am hoping to get this right from the outset.

Many thanks for you advice

jon

 

[Castellop123]

Cheers...

 

[paul-discus]

I have some beautiful disus for sale. In order for your Discus to do well in that size tank i would add just one pair or 3 other fish bought at least 3 inches in size, 4 inch would be even better, much better chance of success. Check that those stones you have in their are not alkaline, if so change for another piece of bogwood. If your tank has been cycling 8 weeks the water should be nicely aged so i see no problems there. If i can be of any help give me a shout

 

[jonny]

I have some beautiful disus for sale. In order for your Discus to do well in that size tank i would add just one pair or 3 other fish bought at least 3 inches in size, 4 inch would be even better, much better chance of success. Check that those stones you have in their are not alkaline, if so change for another piece of bogwood. If your tank has been cycling 8 weeks the water should be nicely aged so i see no problems there. If i can be of any help give me a shout

Thanks paul,

How do i test the stones?

Is just a pair of discus enough? i heard they like larger groups.

Thanks again

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

yeah trust me a pair will not be enough. 200 litres is enough, works out to be roughly 53 gallons. You could do 5 Discus. This way aggresion is spread evenly and the dominant one doesn't pick on just the only other Discus in the tank. Make sure you do every other day water changes (tank will be cramped with other fish along with Discus) and give the pleco lots to feed other wise he'll take the slime coating off your Discus

 

[cheesy feet]

Yes you could keep 4 adult discus in there with good filtration & weekly water changes.But from start to make them grow try and do as many water changes as you can.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

5 would be better, better for spread of agression.

 

[cheesy feet]

5 would be better, better for spread of agression.

Oh yea odds better than even

 

[Discus_Discuses_Discae]

the hardest thing about em is when the first group of discus go in the tank... but more the better... espesially the younger ones..
you can actually put a bunch in there about 8-10 but only if juvinile fish.. and thin them out later or get a bigger tank..
that way they won't be too stressed... young discus like security in numbers... if you do decide to get only a few to start, if they are
doing good the second batch will be easy to get situated....

New Discus: "oh hey there's some guys of my kind already in here... and they're eating... it must be ok..."

as far as water goes try to match to the supplier... but SLOWLY and gradually bring it back up to what comes out of your tap

this is because ph adjusting can cause other water problems in the long run and it's a P.I.T.A.

that was my mistake i've made so far.. trying to keep 7.0PH i used a buffer... Which contaied Phosphate...(most do)
and had small algae problems.. now they're in 7.8 and perfectly fine

key is stability... screw the "perfect" discus ph and hardness... don't need it
low PH+soft water = recipie for disaster

 

[fuzz16]

only problem with getting so many is finding them homes as they get bigger.
5 would be fine in that tank, they might like some more plant cover though.
normally if you buy discus from the area they will have the same or close to same water conditions. aclimate them over an hour or so in a bucket with an air stone

and i know people with discus who have got them in a pH of high 7's to 8...i would say consistancy is the key.

 

[cheesy feet]

My Ph is is of the scale(above 8.4 last time i checked) and the only deaths of discus for me is #jumped out of the tank #2 sucked on by a pleco and got an infection.None from ph!

 

[Castellop123]

8.4 for Discus... Isn't that a little extreme...

Surely using RO water ( or rainwater ) would be the best option...

 

[cheesy feet]

They have been living in it over 8 months and are fine..