Starting My New Tank - Suggestions

[riche_guy]

I set-up my 110 gallon tank last Friday and today I checked out the water chemistry:

Ph - 7.0 - 7.2
Ammonia - 0ppm
nitirite - 0ppm
nitrate - 0ppm

Now I gearing my tank towards accepting Discus. No fish or plants as of yet.

1) do you think my tank is ready for fish?

2) what inhabitants should I introduce first that go well with Discus and do I have to have other inhabitants not including catfish or pleco?

3) any particulr plants, decorations, driftwood, etc. go well with discus.

any suggestions would be well appreciated

 

[pica_nuttalli]

that's a pretty high pH for discus... what's your hardness look like? you may want to invest in a RO machine if you're set on being a discus keeper.

 

[wuvmybetta]

In answer to number 1...
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=10099
Have you cycled yet?

 

[riche_guy]

that's a pretty high pH for discus... what's your hardness look like? you may want to invest in a RO machine if you're set on being a discus keeper.

Can you explai R O machine further please. Thanks.

As for the fish cycle. I added Some Bio-support which is live bacteria on day one. Given the results from my chemistry, does it show that a cycle has occured?

 

[demonmagus]

go on ro-man.co.uk
RO units take basically everything out of water, converting it into almost pure (99% pure), and they ae used for sicus and reef (marine) tanks, check out saltwater hardware if you get stuck as most people who use these keep marine, so they can tell you about it.

 

[riche_guy]

go on ro-man.co.uk
RO units take basically everything out of water, converting it into almost pure (99% pure), and they ae used for sicus and reef (marine) tanks, check out saltwater hardware if you get stuck as most people who use these keep marine, so they can tell you about it.

So if it is is used mostly for marine tanks, is it really worth my while to have it for Discus?

 

[Fish_Mike]

No, not at all actually. Discus are very adaptable to PH and RO is a waste of money for Discus IMO (Even if you want to breed them, they only need clean water) Also, an about neutral PH isn't high at all...

 

[fishing4exotics]

1) do you think my tank is ready for fish?

Looks like the parameters are right. But, has the tank been cycled. Reason I ask is that you have 0 nitrates.

2) what inhabitants should I introduce first that go well with Discus and do I have to have other inhabitants not including catfish or pleco?

I would introduce Cardinals, Apistos, Black tetra, Hatchetfish, and Rummy nose. They are found in the same waters as discus and they can handle the high temps of a discus tank. Discus have also evolved immunity to the same kind of diseases as the above species.

3) any particular plants, decorations, driftwood, etc. go well with discus.

I would go with plants that mimic the amazon biotope. Sword plants, Heteranthera, Ceratophyllum, Vallisneria, and Cabomba.

If you buy your Discus from a local breeder, ask them what their water parameters are. After generations of breeding most discus, that are available have acclimated to higher pH and hard water condition. One good reason to get your Discus locally.

 

[riche_guy]

1) do you think my tank is ready for fish?

Looks like the parameters are right. But, has the tank been cycled. Reason I ask is that you have 0 nitrates.

Well as I mentioned I added Bio-support which is live bacteria on day 1. If I add these starter fish, will it get the water to cycle?

2) what inhabitants should I introduce first that go well with Discus and do I have to have other inhabitants not including catfish or pleco?

I would introduce Cardinals, Apistos, Black tetra, Hatchetfish, and Rummy nose. They are found in the same waters as discus and they can handle the high temps of a discus tank. Discus have also evolved immunity to the same kind of diseases as the above species.

3) any particular plants, decorations, driftwood, etc. go well with discus.

I would go with plants that mimic the amazon biotope. Sword plants, Heteranthera, Ceratophyllum, Vallisneria, and Cabomba.

If you buy your Discus from a local breeder, ask them what their water parameters are. After generations of breeding most discus, that are available have acclimated to higher pH and hard water condition. One good reason to get your Discus locally.

Thanks for your help. The Reverse Osmosis thingy sounded really expensive. Glad I don't need it.

 

[Fish_Mike]

I have to say though, very very few plants are found in a Discus' natural habitat. They mostly hide in tree roots, and some of the plants listed are actually asian.