Hi all mfk , i recently picked up a 150 gallon tank 4ft by 2ft by 29" tall now I want to make this a discus/planted aquarium i want to know what I will be needing filtration wise . Plus any other tips for keeping discus . I have been keeping all sorts of cichlids for 5 years but this is my first time with discus thanks!
Basic discus care?
- Thread starter Luke freshwater
- Start date
If it's drilled, a sump setup should work well. If not, a gd canister or a couple ac 110's could do the trick...but waterchanges and more waterchanges seems to be a major key to growing them out. I feed mine finely chopped wild salmon (not the farm raised crap), PE Mysis shrimp, discus Hans flake, and freezedried blackworms which they absolutely love. I stay away from beefheart which works for many, but I think I would have to up the wc's which I'm already doing 70% everyother day.lol...I keep them at 83 to 84degrees at all times which seems to be working gd for me. Groups of at least 6 is usually strongly recommended for pecking order purposes. I have 10 and all are growing great. I see a few more strains I got to have, so I will 16 soon.lol
A planted Discus tank is large order for a lot of us on this site. I would try just Discus first. Mature Discus are more forgiving than young ones and with youngsters, you run the risk of screwing them up before they even reach adulthood. Like JayC mentioned, water changes, water changes, and more water changes, plus good high protein food for juvies. It will get hard worrying about your plants when you're draining the tank every other day or every day.
When you buy them, like JayC said, groups of around 6, like sizes, purchased from a reputable DISCUS source. Try to keep things as clean and as simple as possible while beginning. Go with domestic strains, so more than likely your tap water will be fine, may have to age your tap, and understand your Discus' appearance is directly related to your water quality,(assuming the genes are there) at least that's what I'm finding out.
If you're sure you want to start with young ones, 4" or less, I'd start them in a smaller bare bottom tank. Also I've found while keeping juvies, I don't need such a crazy filter bc I'm changing the water every day. Right now I'm keeping 9 juvies in a 60 gallon bb tank. 1 sponge filter and an AC 110. After a WC, I feed quality flake
and pellet 1 day, beefheart, blood worms, and another 95% WC the next. Keep a prefilter on, I found you are able to see exactly where the food goes so there should no serious overfeeding, and keeping junk out of the filter keeps your water quality up. I haven't had my fish very long, but hope this helps
When you buy them, like JayC said, groups of around 6, like sizes, purchased from a reputable DISCUS source. Try to keep things as clean and as simple as possible while beginning. Go with domestic strains, so more than likely your tap water will be fine, may have to age your tap, and understand your Discus' appearance is directly related to your water quality,(assuming the genes are there) at least that's what I'm finding out.
If you're sure you want to start with young ones, 4" or less, I'd start them in a smaller bare bottom tank. Also I've found while keeping juvies, I don't need such a crazy filter bc I'm changing the water every day. Right now I'm keeping 9 juvies in a 60 gallon bb tank. 1 sponge filter and an AC 110. After a WC, I feed quality flake
and pellet 1 day, beefheart, blood worms, and another 95% WC the next. Keep a prefilter on, I found you are able to see exactly where the food goes so there should no serious overfeeding, and keeping junk out of the filter keeps your water quality up. I haven't had my fish very long, but hope this helps
Luke, sounds just like how I started off about 6 months ago...my first time with discus also. I too wanted a planted tank with discus from the start. I got everything for my 150 gal (substrate, co2 system, lighting, $200+ worth of live plants) only to realize quickly how in over my head I was...discus requires warmer water and some plants I ordered do not tolerate the higher temp so did not grow well. It was easier to rip out the plants than to get rid of the discus. The hardiest plants I kept were the anubias & java ferns & moss (very easy to care for).
If you can get a planted tank to flourish, that would be quite an accomplishment. If I can start over, I'd get my planted tank going first...I have to admit that I rushed into it. Once the plants came in, I had to go out for my fish. Very important that you acclimate discus slowly to your water. In haste, I killed one because it couldn't handle the sudden change in water condition. In my years of fish keeping, discus is by far the most sensitive.
If you can get a planted tank to flourish, that would be quite an accomplishment. If I can start over, I'd get my planted tank going first...I have to admit that I rushed into it. Once the plants came in, I had to go out for my fish. Very important that you acclimate discus slowly to your water. In haste, I killed one because it couldn't handle the sudden change in water condition. In my years of fish keeping, discus is by far the most sensitive.
Thanks so much guys I've learned a lot , very infomative I will be taking some off the less tolarent plants out of the tank and moving them to my 125 so I can keep the temp around 84F my LFS has worked out a deal with me they will be getting there discus in soon from a good breeder localy I will start with 5 , im sure you will hear from me soon with more questions 
I've learned a lot , very infomative I will be taking some off the less tolarent plants out of the tank and moving them to my 125 so I can keep the temp around 84F my LFS has worked out a deal with me they will be getting there discus in soon from a good breeder localy I will start with 5 , im sure you will hear from me soon with more questions 
Your 150 will make a perfect show tank with 10-12 adult discus. If your going to invest in juvies i would grow them out in a separate tank to at least 5+ inches before putting them in a planted tank. Most people with planted tanks will not commit to 3-4 feedings and Daily water changes that juvies require to reach there max growth of 5-6"+. If you were to invest in adults then growing out wouldn't be an issue. For filtration you can use Sump, Canisters, HOB and or sponges just keep up with the weekly cleaning and maintenance. Keeping Discus is like keeping any other fish but with a little more TLC... With the proper care and diet they can be very enjoyable!
I keep all my adult discus in bare bottom tanks with double stack sponge filters with temp at 83/84 degrees. They get 2 feedings daily with 100% water change once a week. I currently have a pair with fry and the fry get 4-5 feedings daily and i change 100% water once in the morning and another 100% at night. I feed my crew tetra color bits, Hans Flakes, Prime reef Flakes, beef heart, blood worms (Treat) and freeze dried black worms.
I keep all my adult discus in bare bottom tanks with double stack sponge filters with temp at 83/84 degrees. They get 2 feedings daily with 100% water change once a week. I currently have a pair with fry and the fry get 4-5 feedings daily and i change 100% water once in the morning and another 100% at night. I feed my crew tetra color bits, Hans Flakes, Prime reef Flakes, beef heart, blood worms (Treat) and freeze dried black worms.