Stocking idea's...

[Aj86]

Im planning to get a 55g and im wondering what sort of fish i can put in it... I want to have a big community tank and I want to have at least 2 discus, Some plecos, cories, gouramis and either cardinals or neons would this be ok? If so how many could i have?

 

[canarsie11]

Discus is a difficult fish to keep, they need excellent water conditions.

Some people even preach daily water changes with discus!

 

[David]

My tank is almost identical to your idea. I have 1 discus (am getting 2 more) 2 clown loaches, 2 platies (got them for cycle), 1 betta (also for cycle, but very attached to him now) and 2 otos. I got a school of 6 cardinals as well but they died on my on the second day. Believe me, you don't want to get cardinals in a tank that is less than 6 months old. Get 3 discus at least, (I chose to get 1 for now to see if I was capable of keeping it alive), 3 cories, 1 or 2 dwarf gouramis as bigger ones can be aggressive, and a school of 6 or more neons/cardinals (only in mature tank). Don't get a pleco, it will pose a threat to your discus. I wouldn't run that risk because they can attach to the discus and literally ride around on it like a remore on a shark and suck it's skin dry of the protective slime coating. Don't ask me why but they are attracted to this.

 

[David]

Discus is a difficult fish to keep, they need excellent water conditions.

Some people even preach daily water changes with discus!

Actually discus aren't difficult at all, IME. Much less than cardinals or neons. I do weekly water changes and my discus is thriving. (Mind you my changes are 50%). My discus made it through my late nitrite spike which my cardinals did not survive.

 

[canarsie11]

Discus is a difficult fish to keep, they need excellent water conditions.

Some people even preach daily water changes with discus!

Actually discus aren't difficult at all, IME. Much less than cardinals or neons. I do weekly water changes and my discus is thriving. (Mind you my changes are 50%). My discus made it through my late nitrite spike which my cardinals did not survive.

I said "some people" preach!

 

[Ben]

stick with other new world cichlids

musch easier to keep

 

[David]

Discus is a difficult fish to keep, they need excellent water conditions.

Some people even preach daily water changes with discus!

Actually discus aren't difficult at all, IME. Much less than cardinals or neons. I do weekly water changes and my discus is thriving. (Mind you my changes are 50%). My discus made it through my late nitrite spike which my cardinals did not survive.

I said "some people" preach!

I wasn't really talking about the water changes... just saying that discus are not that difficult.

 

[canarsie11]

Discus is a difficult fish to keep, they need excellent water conditions.

Some people even preach daily water changes with discus!

Actually discus aren't difficult at all, IME. Much less than cardinals or neons. I do weekly water changes and my discus is thriving. (Mind you my changes are 50%). My discus made it through my late nitrite spike which my cardinals did not survive.

I said "some people" preach!

I wasn't really talking about the water changes... just saying that discus are not that difficult.

How long have you had your discuss, 3 weeks tops!

You are not authorized to make that statement. You can only say "so far I have not had problems with my discus!"


Let be real!

Everything I have read on discus, states one thing, "difficulty!"

So, your 3 weeks does not make you an expert!

 

[Aj86]

Discus is a difficult fish to keep, they need excellent water conditions.

Some people even preach daily water changes with discus!

Yea ive heard that from a few people... but i think im going to give them a try... My dad has kept them before so he can probably help me with them too!

 

[Aj86]

My tank is almost identical to your idea. I have 1 discus (am getting 2 more) 2 clown loaches, 2 platies (got them for cycle), 1 betta (also for cycle, but very attached to him now) and 2 otos. I got a school of 6 cardinals as well but they died on my on the second day. Believe me, you don't want to get cardinals in a tank that is less than 6 months old. Get 3 discus at least, (I chose to get 1 for now to see if I was capable of keeping it alive), 3 cories, 1 or 2 dwarf gouramis as bigger ones can be aggressive, and a school of 6 or more neons/cardinals (only in mature tank). Don't get a pleco, it will pose a threat to your discus. I wouldn't run that risk because they can attach to the discus and literally ride around on it like a remore on a shark and suck it's skin dry of the protective slime coating. Don't ask me why but they are attracted to this.

Yet again thanx david! I dont think ill be getting a pleco then... Haha are otto's ok with them? And how come your getting 2 more? are they better in three's?

 

[Aj86]

stick with other new world cichlids

musch easier to keep

yea i was thinking maybe some angels or something but i really like the look of discus's i wish they could go together!

 

[David]

My tank is almost identical to your idea. I have 1 discus (am getting 2 more) 2 clown loaches, 2 platies (got them for cycle), 1 betta (also for cycle, but very attached to him now) and 2 otos. I got a school of 6 cardinals as well but they died on my on the second day. Believe me, you don't want to get cardinals in a tank that is less than 6 months old. Get 3 discus at least, (I chose to get 1 for now to see if I was capable of keeping it alive), 3 cories, 1 or 2 dwarf gouramis as bigger ones can be aggressive, and a school of 6 or more neons/cardinals (only in mature tank). Don't get a pleco, it will pose a threat to your discus. I wouldn't run that risk because they can attach to the discus and literally ride around on it like a remore on a shark and suck it's skin dry of the protective slime coating. Don't ask me why but they are attracted to this.

Yet again thanx david! I dont think ill be getting a pleco then... Haha are otto's ok with them? And how come your getting 2 more? are they better in three's?

Yes otos are fine with them. I have 2 with mine. Sometimes it curiously approaches one of them, which then detaches from the glass and swims furiously away. Discus are schooling fish, believe it or not, and feel happier and safer in groups. the only reason I only have 1 is because I wasn't sure if I was ready and I didn't want 3 $20 fish dropping dead the next day.

 

[David]

stick with other new world cichlids

musch easier to keep

yea i was thinking maybe some angels or something but i really like the look of discus's i wish they could go together!

Technically, angels and discus CAN go together, but the angels can carry parasites that are harmful to the discus.

 

[Aj86]

My tank is almost identical to your idea. I have 1 discus (am getting 2 more) 2 clown loaches, 2 platies (got them for cycle), 1 betta (also for cycle, but very attached to him now) and 2 otos. I got a school of 6 cardinals as well but they died on my on the second day. Believe me, you don't want to get cardinals in a tank that is less than 6 months old. Get 3 discus at least, (I chose to get 1 for now to see if I was capable of keeping it alive), 3 cories, 1 or 2 dwarf gouramis as bigger ones can be aggressive, and a school of 6 or more neons/cardinals (only in mature tank). Don't get a pleco, it will pose a threat to your discus. I wouldn't run that risk because they can attach to the discus and literally ride around on it like a remore on a shark and suck it's skin dry of the protective slime coating. Don't ask me why but they are attracted to this.

Yet again thanx david! I dont think ill be getting a pleco then... Haha are otto's ok with them? And how come your getting 2 more? are they better in three's?

Yes otos are fine with them. I have 2 with mine. Sometimes it curiously approaches one of them, which then detaches from the glass and swims furiously away. Discus are schooling fish, believe it or not, and feel happier and safer in groups. the only reason I only have 1 is because I wasn't sure if I was ready and I didn't want 3 $20 fish dropping dead the next day.

Yea thats true... I think im going to do that too once i have everything up and running...

 

[David]

Discus is a difficult fish to keep, they need excellent water conditions.

Some people even preach daily water changes with discus!

Actually discus aren't difficult at all, IME. Much less than cardinals or neons. I do weekly water changes and my discus is thriving. (Mind you my changes are 50%). My discus made it through my late nitrite spike which my cardinals did not survive.

I said "some people" preach!

I wasn't really talking about the water changes... just saying that discus are not that difficult.

How long have you had your discuss, 3 weeks tops!

You are not authorized to make that statement. You can only say "so far I have not had problems with my discus!"


Let be real!

Everything I have read on discus, states one thing, "difficulty!"

So, your 3 weeks does not make you an expert!

1. I did not say i was an expert on discus, simply that IME, they are not difficult to keep.

2. I may have had my discus for only 3 weeks, but it did not drop dead on the second day *coughcardinalscough*, and is still looking healthy, happy, and vibrant. That counts for something doesn't it?

3. You don't have to believe everything you read. I prefer to rely on personal experience, IMO much more effective and real than a seondary source of info, like a book or other people's posts.