Help with Discus set up

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
G

gar b3ar

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 12, 2007
283
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Fresh Meadows
I need help with setting up my new tank. I brought a 55gal tank. I want to know how keep my tank the best for my discus. Everything to put in the tank.
And also, may i keep discus with sevrums?

Thank you.
 
it is best to keep your discus alone or just with something like corydoras
and paracheirodon axelrodi but the center of the attention in the tank must be ever he the discus ;) in 200 liters i think you can put maximum 5 discus or 4 with no problems discus fish are bottom feeders so you need to create a empty space where just gravel is present so you can make sink theyr feed there, they too need hiding places where they can go when they are scared, vallisneria spiralis or gigantea would be good idea for this
 
i would plant each end of the tank with live or fake plants. use some natural driftwood so you darken the water. this prevents a lot of light penetration, perfect for discus. i would also look at getting the aqualight. its a t-5 but its not HO or VHO so you dont get that intensity but the option of using 420nm's or true color 3 bulbs. these bulbs bring out an emense amount of color in your fish. i would also consider having an area of the tank were there is some floating cover. this will help your discus stay comfortable in your tank. remember that they dont like a lot of current so if your running filters, i would do a canister or 2 with a spraybar. rena's are cheap and they work like a charm, most of the time. use RO-DI water only and buffer as needed. you should be adding little chemicals this way so you dont have a high organic waste load in your water making your levels stay more stable. do water changes on a regular and your in the clear. always feed a high quality food and they will grow healthy and strong. good luck
 
Good, clean water...I think you could start with about 10 discus in your 55 gallon (I'm assuming that you are purchasing small fish), then once they start to mature, keep your favorite five or six, and sell off the remainding fish. Bare bottom is the way to go, but I understand that a lot of people (Including myself) like to have gravel in their display tanks...Not a big deal, just make sure it is getting cleaned very often.
 
Good, clean water...I think you could start with about 10 discus in your 55 gallon (I'm assuming that you are purchasing small fish), then once they start to mature, keep your favorite five or six, and sell off the remainding fish. Bare bottom is the way to go, but I understand that a lot of people (Including myself) like to have gravel in their display tanks...Not a big deal, just make sure it is getting cleaned very often.
 
aaargh 5 is more then enough i believe, where to put the other ones once they grow??????????? not enough space ;)
 
If you've never kept them before, start with a bare bottom tank. Maintaining parameters is key, find out what the fish are kept in before you get them, ideally RO water only and start slowly, and then water change as much as poss.

Yes people keep them with gravel, plants, but if your just starting out it's just plain easier with a bare bottom and take it from there..

Good luck
 
i would consider getting an RO/DI unit for sure. the amount of water that your going to be going through its deff. going to be worth it. consider getting a smaller tank for storage or use a sturdy plastic trash can. rubbermaid and tuf-man make some good garbage cans that are very strong and work well for storage.
 
i am going to go with a bare bottom with some drift wood also going to add an ro/di unit. Let my tank cycle for a few days. add some neon tetras and than add about 7 different discus
 
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