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Dispatch273

Dispatch273

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 22, 2011
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I want to set up a discus tank. In a few weeks I'll have an empty 75 gallon and would like to turn it into a discus tank. I'd like to have a pair of discus as the focus of the tank and a bunch of schooling fish. The tank would be planted. My only issue is that I can only do two 50% water changes a week. Would this work? I don't know much about discus, but are there any type of discus that are heartier than others? Any help is appreciated! Thank you!
 
We keep our tanks very clean and do water changes at least twice a week. We monitor our water chemistry regularly. We feed our fish varied and high quality food and we have great filtration. Having said that, we have lost 4 out of 5 discus in just over 5 months. If I were you, I would spend the extra money and buy ADULT discus, not juveniles. The juveniles are just too hard to keep alive and grow out, in my experience. They are beautiful, but they are delicate. Best of luck!!!! :)
 
bigcatlover said:
We keep our tanks very clean and do water changes at least twice a week. We monitor our water chemistry regularly. We feed our fish varied and high quality food and we have great filtration. Having said that, we have lost 4 out of 5 discus in just over 5 months. If I were you, I would spend the extra money and buy ADULT discus, not juveniles. The juveniles are just too hard to keep alive and grow out, in my experience. They are beautiful, but they are delicate. Best of luck!!!! :)
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Yes my plan is to buy an adult pair of discus which I know are pricey. I've read up about raising juvies and doing that in a 75 gallon would be too much for me with all the other tanks I have going. I have no problem doing daily water changes on a 20 gallon grow out but a 75 would be too much lol. Is there any type of discus you recommend?
 
make sure they are a mated pair. otherwise it's not a good idea to have two. I have adult wilds and do one 70% wc every five days. adults do not need the many wc's that juvies do. you'll be fine.
 
Dispatch273 said:
Yes my plan is to buy an adult pair of discus which I know are pricey. I've read up about raising juvies and doing that in a 75 gallon would be too much for me with all the other tanks I have going. I have no problem doing daily water changes on a 20 gallon grow out but a 75 would be too much lol. Is there any type of discus you recommend?
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I'm not sure if there are any types that are better than others...wild caughts may be shyer or have a harder time adjusting to life in the tank, but I don't know that for sure with discus specifically. It's just what I think based on my experience with other wild caught fish. I think the most important thing is that you get them from somewhere/someone that you trust and that you know they are healthy and have been well taken care of. Healthy adults should be fine in your 75 gallon and I definitely agree that a mated pair would probably be best, however I have seen at my LFS adult discus (non-mated) kept in community tanks and they were fine. So I think the most important thing is to make sure (to the best of your ability) that you get healthy fish to start with.
 
like others said do mated pairs if not your might have problems. all in all adult healthy discus are just as hardy as any others in my experience. if you cant do 2x water change at atleast 50% a week i would suggest feed lightly and keep your stock minimum.

as for what pairs thats up to you. personally i have avariety of strains in my show tank and in my private collection tank i have some of the rarer strains like the albino milinium gold/ the albino snow white and such. up to you really.
 
Yes I was thinking of doing a proven pair as the focus of the tank surrounded by lots of plants and some kind of schooling fish. This will probably not be happening for a while but I want to do as much research on discus as I can. What kinds of schooling fish are ok with discus?
 
Ramirzi cichlids usually do good with discus, also pretty much any schooling tetra that tolerates the warmer water, and won't fit in the discus's mouth
 
discus are easy. just make sure u get them from a good source. since u be getting an adult pair. you dont need to do to many water changes. once a week 50% is good enough. its only the small discus that u need to do lots of waterchange. assuming u have good filtration. for schooling fish i would recommend rummynose. they are one of the best schooling fish out there. and yeah rams are good also.
 
lemons 1.jpgrummy nose are good. also lemon tetras. a bit larger and play well with discus. do not get serpae's as they are known fin nippers.

lemons 1.jpg
 
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