Discus tank on a low budget...

[Aerious]

I myself managed to pull of a decent discus tank with nice decorations and for dirt cheap.

There was a renovation in a near by Big Al's Fisharies, and they sold me a 36g for $1 per gallon so the tank cost me $36.

I found some strange market that sells things extremely cheap (I don't know how and don't care to find out ;P) got very nice Blood Pigeon discus at $35 a piece.

At the same renovation sale I got a 30pound bag of used gravel for $12

At a nearby dollarama we bought larger rocks to fill in space at small bags per $1 and a few natural looking fake plants for $1 a pop.

At the same store I got the discus, I got the heater for $25 and the filter for $30.

Tank36g = $36
Dicusx2 = $70
Heater = $25
Filter = $30
Gravel 30 lb = $12
Larger Rocksx7 = $7
Plantsx8 = $8

Total = $188

 

[revkkoolaid]

I myself managed to pull of a decent discus tank with nice decorations and for dirt cheap.

There was a renovation in a near by Big Al's Fisharies, and they sold me a 36g for $1 per gallon so the tank cost me $36.

I found some strange market that sells things extremely cheap (I don't know how and don't care to find out ;P) got very nice Blood Pigeon discus at $35 a piece.

At the same renovation sale I got a 30pound bag of used gravel for $12

At a nearby dollarama we bought larger rocks to fill in space at small bags per $1 and a few natural looking fake plants for $1 a pop.

At the same store I got the discus, I got the heater for $25 and the filter for $30.

Tank36g = $36
Dicusx2 = $70
Heater = $25
Filter = $30
Gravel 30 lb = $12
Larger Rocksx7 = $7
Plantsx8 = $8

Total = $188

pics?

 

[Aerious]

Mind you there are neon tetras and rope fish in there.

The tetras are actually quite funny, they sold very young ones, 3 for $1.99. I bought 12, they accidentally put 13, and cashier miscounted and I got 13 neons for $1.99.

The rope/reed fish I got for $30

Oh and the filter clams were $2 a piece, but for the discus tank itself without the other fish it came down to $188

 

[hillbilly]

OK. Here is an update on the young pigeons in our low budget tank. As you can see, they have grown quite a lot! One has laid eggs a couple of times, but I don't have a confirmed pair yet. They are still pretty young, so there is still time. Here is our group chowing down on live California Blackworms earlier today. Sorry for the dirty glass, I haven't done tank maintenance on this tank today. With so many tanks, it takes a while to get around to them all.

 

[BassinAssassin76]

Wow Thankyou so much for sharing I to stayed away from discus just do to hearing how expensive tehy are and how sensitive tehy can be but after reading your article I may have to give it a shot

 

[jcm412]

Better yet use craigslist.com to buy cheap used set ups. I have gotten some amazing deals on complete used setups. Just watch and you'll find something.

 

[hillbilly]

Better yet use craigslist.com to buy cheap used set ups. I have gotten some amazing deals on complete used setups. Just watch and you'll find something.

True, you can sometimes find good deals, but it's a gamble. I've also bought used tanks that turned out to be leakers, and had to be repaired. I once scored a 125 for free that was perfect other than a few scratches. You never know for sure until you fill it. I believe with small tanks that can be bought inexpensively new (like a 55), it's not worth the chance of getting something that may need work to use.

 

[The Rockster]

Great thread and beautiful Discus.

Really liked the planted tank pics. We keep hearing that its the ultimate, in freshwater fish keeping.

We have kept both, and a bare bottom was simple to keep, as was the ability to grow out the discus...........with black worms from California.

Keeping a planted tank with Discus was another story. The reason we got into planted tanks was that it was on my "Bucket List".

Having no experience with live plants, and not having Discus for 40 years, the experience has been expensive, educational, emotional and at times depressing.

We have battled algae problems, HTH, Co2 gassing, and Growth Hormone Problems (we think that was what it was.)

We still keep the planted tank with Discus, but have reevaluated our priories, with the Discus before the plants. Thanks to the likes, of T.Barr; Wattley's Discus and many others, who have given guidance and support, we continue to enjoy the planted tank experience.

 

[Mr Pleco]

Yes, 5 or 6 discus can live in a 55gal. their whole lives. You can get a 55 gal. normally for around $100 if you don't want to wait for a sale.

Really? Define "Whole Lives"? I have 6 Discus that have outgrown a 90 gal tank?

Skip the 55 too narrow, min would be a 75 for me which can be picked up on craigs list ,pumps and stands for under 200.00

75 Gallon. 48x24x24

 

[The Rockster]

Hi,

Our experience has been with the right amount of filtration and maintenance ( water changes), that the 10 gallon per fish is a good rule of thumb, for the life of the Discus.

The taller the tank, the more comfortable they seem to be, as they live in the upper portion of the water column