Never kept discus, please help.

[Aquanero]

I think a planted Discus tank is one of the most butiful sights in all of fish keeping, and those that choose to keep them in bare tanks are missing half the potential of one of the worlds most beautiful fish. But if you want to grow dinner plates bare tanks are the way to go. If you want big discus in your planted tank grow them in bare tanks and then move them to the display tank. Otherwise just grow them out in the planted tank.

I have been keeping planted discus tanks for years. I posted in other threads that I've always drawn insperation from the Takashi Amano type tanks. Rather than write a book here reasearch the above, there is a welth of information to be had.

I do keep loaches, Botia Sidthimunki the dwarf loach. These are great little fish they eat snail eggs and tiny snails before they grow. They are not too easy to find and are not that cheep but great for a Discus tank. Stay away from Ottos they are slime suckers. A bushy nose pleco is a good choice for your tank. I also add Caridina japonica, (Amano Shrimp) to the tank for algea duty. All your Tetras are fine, and I don't think your Rose Line Shark will bother the Discus. Just keep the water clean and feed good food. I have never been big on using beef heart. A good sinking pellet of apprprate size (NLS Thera A is good) along with some chopped earth worms and minced shrimp. Good luck, your going in the right direction, do the reasearch and you'll have a great Discus tank.

 

[sassyfishwater]

No water changes? How is that possible your nitrates should be through the roof, do you have a very heavily planted tank?

My nitrates are fine Ammonia is 0, Nitrite is 0, and the nitrate is 3 ppms pH is 6.0 and a TDS of 20 ppms and remains at those levels with out me touching the aquarium in any way all I do is feed them. Maintaining an aquarium now without doing water changes and cleaning is very much possible. I have invented a Water Control System for aquariums and Koi ponds which can not be found on the market yet. This system is patent pending and I am waiting now for the final patent to come. This Water Control System controls the water properties and maintains the settings, pH and water hardness monitored by a TDS meter so if I want a pH of 6.0 and a low TDS, or a pH of 7.0 and a little higher TDS, or a pH of 8.5 and a higher TDS, the system will adjust from one setting to another and maintain the aquarium at that setting. I have been useing thi system for 7 years now and I will never set up an aquarium or Koi pond and not use it the system has proven to be out standing in the keeping and maintaining aquariums and Koi ponds.

 

[leather]

My nitrates are fine Ammonia is 0, Nitrite is 0, and the nitrate is 3 ppms pH is 6.0 and a TDS of 20 ppms and remains at those levels with out me touching the aquarium in any way all I do is feed them. Maintaining an aquarium now without doing water changes and cleaning is very much possible. I have invented a Water Control System for aquariums and Koi ponds which can not be found on the market yet. This system is patent pending and I am waiting now for the final patent to come. This Water Control System controls the water properties and maintains the settings, pH and water hardness monitored by a TDS meter so if I want a pH of 6.0 and a low TDS, or a pH of 7.0 and a little higher TDS, or a pH of 8.5 and a higher TDS, the system will adjust from one setting to another and maintain the aquarium at that setting. I have been useing thi system for 7 years now and I will never set up an aquarium or Koi pond and not use it the system has proven to be out standing in the keeping and maintaining aquariums and Koi ponds.

Okay, thats fine its just in your original post you made it sound like water changes aren't needed. But you are in fact doing something to maintain the quality of your water. I don't do "water changes" per say on some of my tanks, i have constant water feed systems so the water is replaced almost daily. Thank you for clearing this up and am intrigued to someday see your design on the market and in action, good luck with that and thank you for your input.

 

[sunvalley aquarist]

I have 5 ea 3"+ clown loaches in with my 11 discus with no problem. I also have a 6" Bala Shark in the tank that I'd like to find a home for.

 

[sassyfishwater]

Okay, thats fine its just in your original post you made it sound like water changes aren't needed. But you are in fact doing something to maintain the quality of your water. I don't do "water changes" per say on some of my tanks, i have constant water feed systems so the water is replaced almost daily. Thank you for clearing this up and am intrigued to someday see your design on the market and in action, good luck with that and thank you for your input.

To define this a little more the water control system controls the carbonate and mineral content of the water that is delivered to the aquarium. For example if the aquarium keeper desides that they wish to house discus and may-be bread them but this keeper does not have the required water to do that, has a high pH and hard water. This water control system will take that water with a High pH and hard water and brings that water to low pH and softwater lower carbonate and mineral content without adding chemicals, buying, storing or ageing water in any way and maintains the water for a good stable environment within the aquarium. If this aquarium keeper desides that they wish now to house a differant type tropical fish say like South African Cyclids all they need to do is reset the System and raise the pH and water hardness, higher carbonate and mineral content without adding chemicals to the water or changing the water in the aquarium.

 

[Snowflake311]

Sassy What size tank do you have and how large are your adult fish?

I think a 150 gal would be fine for any size 2"-8" discus. Only thing is doing wc on that size tank would be more work then if you were to grow them out in a 55 gal first.

 

[WyldFya]

To define this a little more the water control system controls the carbonate and mineral content of the water that is delivered to the aquarium. For example if the aquarium keeper desides that they wish to house discus and may-be bread them but this keeper does not have the required water to do that, has a high pH and hard water. This water control system will take that water with a High pH and hard water and brings that water to low pH and softwater lower carbonate and mineral content without adding chemicals, buying, storing or ageing water in any way and maintains the water for a good stable environment within the aquarium. If this aquarium keeper desides that they wish now to house a differant type tropical fish say like South African Cyclids all they need to do is reset the System and raise the pH and water hardness, higher carbonate and mineral content without adding chemicals to the water or changing the water in the aquarium.

This system has to use some form of chemical in order to control all of that, or use extra water. It isn't possible to just change water's parameters without the use of one of these to control the parameters. This also can risk the fish's health due to a lack of trace elements.

 

[WyldFya]

Sassy What size tank do you have and how large are your adult fish?

I think a 150 gal would be fine for any size 2"-8" discus. Only thing is doing wc on that size tank would be more work then if you were to grow them out in a 55 gal first.

150 Gallon tanks do not produce full beautiful discus compared to smaller tanks. The more space these fish have, the more they will swim, and the more they swim, the more calories they burn. This will have a similar effect to not feeding them enough, although, not fixable by feeding more.

 

[leather]

150 Gallon tanks do not produce full beautiful discus compared to smaller tanks. The more space these fish have, the more they will swim, and the more they swim, the more calories they burn. This will have a similar effect to not feeding them enough, although, not fixable by feeding more.

They won't grow to full size, or they won't color up?

Also water changes on my tank are easy, I do them while watching tv. I have a drain and hot and cold water piped right to the tank. I just siphon in the drain until its low enough, then throw a hose in and add tank temp water until full. Been doing water changes this way for years. Back when I kept african cichlids in this tank I would do one or more 50% changes a week.

 

[WyldFya]

They will be stunted. Even stunted fish can show full color though.