WyldFya;851121; said:
Oh, yes, for juveniles-- true. But who the heck wants to do a daily water change for them when they reach adulthood unless planning to breed?
A nice display tank should be able to go a week before needing a water change.
Converting to Discus
- Thread starter Optimist
- Start date
Oh, yes, for juveniles-- true. But who the heck wants to do a daily water change for them when they reach adulthood unless planning to breed?
A nice display tank should be able to go a week before needing a water change.
Optimist;849377; said:
I would suggest that he start with 3 Discus, the 10 tetras, and 4 cories. Wait about a month, then see if the water change schedule is where he wants it to be. If he feels that the tank can handle more at that time, then go for it.
Again, unless we're talking about buying juvie Discus. Juvies will grow and increase the bioload. So lower stocking is better.
WolfFisho1;849689; said:i would still go with 5! i havent had any problems with that many in a 55! i dont kno what is rong with ur discus abpositive!
Maybe you have plants?
Or maybe you have the medium sized Discus?
Or maybe you have all girls?
Or maybe mine are just giant, piggy, jerks? ( I vote for this one since it won't piss anyone off)
Dunno.
:WTF:
First time discus keeping in a 55 gallon, the basics:
1. Barebottom is recommended, Pot a few Amazon Swords and add some floating watersprite.
2. Use one size larger than MRS canister type filter and a large sponge or outside HOB power filter.
3. Do buy six Discus and direct from a Discus breeder.
4. Two 75% water changes twice a week is sufficient. The more automated the and easier the more likely you'll do it. I just use an RV potable water hose with a few PVC fittings and pipe to form a U-tube configuration that just hangs on the tank frame with a strainer inlet. I use nylon fly screen held in place with a rubber band. This system is far faster at emptying and refilling tanks than the expensive systems sold by the trade. I run the siphon out the door and on to the lawn but the bathtub drain is fine. Get a garden hose adapter for one of your mixing faucets and use the same hose to refill the tank(s). Always use a good water conditionioner per directions.
5. Feed 4 X daily. That should include frozen bloodworms, some pellet, Tetra Color Bits are good, a good large size flake food, beefheart blend, and a live food as often as you can. Even a once a week treat is beneficial.
6. At about one year old, in every group of Discus a dominant pair will emerge. You can deal with the messy details of Discus breeding then.
That the antics Discus go through during pair formation bothers someone is something I can't relate to but I would ignore anyone who is advising from that position. There are far worse things aquarists have to deal with.
7. Water chemistry: Avoid discussing this with discus keepers. At most, politely nod at the appropriate moments as one does to a signicant other reading off your list of weekend chores when you actually are planning to go fishing anyway. It should be added to the list of politics and religion. If you can drink it, domestic Discus will do fine in it. They have long left behind the more demanding requirements of their wild caught ancestors. 50 years of captive breeding has a way of doing this to fish.
8. Just ignore all the above. I only began keeping discus in 1967 and began breeding wild Discus in 1969. You may have heard of those years. Many of the survivors still don't have their feet on the ground. Still, not everything they learned how to do has been lost from memory.
1. Barebottom is recommended, Pot a few Amazon Swords and add some floating watersprite.
2. Use one size larger than MRS canister type filter and a large sponge or outside HOB power filter.
3. Do buy six Discus and direct from a Discus breeder.
4. Two 75% water changes twice a week is sufficient. The more automated the and easier the more likely you'll do it. I just use an RV potable water hose with a few PVC fittings and pipe to form a U-tube configuration that just hangs on the tank frame with a strainer inlet. I use nylon fly screen held in place with a rubber band. This system is far faster at emptying and refilling tanks than the expensive systems sold by the trade. I run the siphon out the door and on to the lawn but the bathtub drain is fine. Get a garden hose adapter for one of your mixing faucets and use the same hose to refill the tank(s). Always use a good water conditionioner per directions.
5. Feed 4 X daily. That should include frozen bloodworms, some pellet, Tetra Color Bits are good, a good large size flake food, beefheart blend, and a live food as often as you can. Even a once a week treat is beneficial.
6. At about one year old, in every group of Discus a dominant pair will emerge. You can deal with the messy details of Discus breeding then.
That the antics Discus go through during pair formation bothers someone is something I can't relate to but I would ignore anyone who is advising from that position. There are far worse things aquarists have to deal with.
7. Water chemistry: Avoid discussing this with discus keepers. At most, politely nod at the appropriate moments as one does to a signicant other reading off your list of weekend chores when you actually are planning to go fishing anyway. It should be added to the list of politics and religion. If you can drink it, domestic Discus will do fine in it. They have long left behind the more demanding requirements of their wild caught ancestors. 50 years of captive breeding has a way of doing this to fish.
8. Just ignore all the above. I only began keeping discus in 1967 and began breeding wild Discus in 1969. You may have heard of those years. Many of the survivors still don't have their feet on the ground. Still, not everything they learned how to do has been lost from memory.
Many fish are available in the US that are acclimated to higher pH and hardness
Just buy your fish from one of them.
It is still not a big deal among tank raised strains. They are very adaptable.
I have bred and raised many wild discus in water with a pH of 7.5 and 240 ppm of GH.
Currently I live on the other side of the river. We get our water from wells with pH of 7.4 and GH 110 ppm.
I only am making plans to tailor my water to match wild conditions in an attempt to breed Heckel Discus. They are not as adaptable nor as easy to breed as other species of wild discus.
Just buy your fish from one of them.
It is still not a big deal among tank raised strains. They are very adaptable.
I have bred and raised many wild discus in water with a pH of 7.5 and 240 ppm of GH.
Currently I live on the other side of the river. We get our water from wells with pH of 7.4 and GH 110 ppm.
I only am making plans to tailor my water to match wild conditions in an attempt to breed Heckel Discus. They are not as adaptable nor as easy to breed as other species of wild discus.
Adults should be OK in a 55, but I grow mine in NO LARGER than a 29 gal. until they are 4-5". If you are IN to discus, you HAVE to be a slave to water changes. Once they are 4-5" then you can put them in a large tank.
