How many Discus?

[jordanlewis100]

Hi all I’ve got a well matured Red Sea Reefer 525 xl (freshwater) i‘m thinking of changing this tank over to discus and wondered what everyone thinks about stocking, I was thinking somewhere between 8-15 discus, decent shoal of cardinals, shoal of corydoras and a few smaller l no plecos in your opinions would this be overstocked? Thanks Paul

 

[Hendre]

With other fish I'd go with 8 maximum. Will also make life easier with the level of maintenance discus require in terms of gravel vacuuming and maintaining water quality since they are messy eaters and are more sensitive to bacteria in general.

 

[jordanlewis100]

Thanks for the reply, I understand the amount of work involved as I do weekly 50% water changes anyway, I asked because I was told a lot more and knew this wasn’t right after all they’re not Mbuna lol this info came from a breeder so maybe after sales, I would have said 8 myself as I always take into consideration adult size

 

[Hendre]

Yeah discus require a little more than 50% weekly. A friend of mine does 80% every two days and keeps his tanks spotless

 

[decoy50]

If its your first time with discus, I'd recommend going bare bottom. You can always add substrate later. Discus are slow feeders and graze from the bottom, bare bottom lets you see if you're over feeding & it makes cleaning excess food/waste easier. I'd also recommend no tank mates at first. Get your discus comfortable & your maintenance dialed in first, then go from there.

 

[dr exum]

Don’t want to hi jack, have similar inquiry... your tank is 140g? 8-10 in there?

Got a 120 - 5’x18”x24” - 8-10 discus with just couple plecos and something 1-2 to work the bottom.. too full?

 

[dr exum]

Ttt

Is it feasible to keep 4-5 pairs in the same tank? Or bad idea? In a 120

vs . 1-2 pairs in a 75g?

 

[RD.]

Yeah discus require a little more than 50% weekly.

Not necessarily. Water changes are dictated by bio-load, so what one feeds, and how much, and how many fish are in a specific volume of water, will be the deciding factor regarding water changes. A local breeder of 40 or so odd years did 50% weekly water changes, once he stopped feeding beef heart. As he said, warm water + beef = beef soup.

The fish below were some of his last Stendker discus that he was raising out on 50% weekly water changes, 100% pellets, before his untimely death. RIP Don.

 

[Hendre]

Very nice! It just depends on so much as you say, but I think for those with smaller systems and lots of discus there isn't harm in doing more water changes

 

[mrrobxc]

Rule of thumb is 10 gallons per discus. I’d start there. Some folks go by seven gallons but that comes with more water changes. You won’t need bare bottom unless you go with juveniles. I’d recommend you start with adults for that reason.

If you want to stock heavier than 10 gallons per discus, prepare to up your water change regime to multiple times a week at 50% or greater.