Planning/stocking Discus 75g

[inssane]

Hi there

I set up a 75 gallon a few months ago.
I currently have:
6 Rummy nose
1 dwarf pleco L???
2 Julii cories
2 panda apistos (pair)
3 bolivian rams (mated pair and third is male)

What I would like to 'max out' at safely:
15 Rummy nose
1 dwarf pleco L???
4 Julii cories
2 panda apistos (pair)
3 bolivian rams (mated pair and third is male)
2 rooster? apistos (haven't decided)
5 discus

I would really like 3 discus and some more schoolers, but I read they are best 5+

I used AqAdvisor to help with my maximum number and species.
My filtration is a sun sun canister 4xxb with UV. Carbon, filter pads, purigen, bio media. There is ample driftwood and silk plants (didn't want to deal with planted setup).

How do these stocking numbers look?
After 25 years of keeping fish I am always looking for interesting suggestions on other stock as well. I love fish that have interesting behaviors and some color.

Input appreciated.
Thanks
Nick

 

[asteele.19]

Are the discus going to be adults or are you getting juvis and going to try and raise them in the tank?
I would leave out the apistos, and I am not sure how well bolivian rams do with Discus.

 

[inssane]

My LFS said that the B rams will be fine with them. I told them it was going to be a discus tank and he reviewed options for me. They are pretty peaceful.

I'm not sure what age this is, but juvenile - when they start developing color and a pattern, but it's not near full. That's what my LFS's typically carry and I'm too cheap to spend 150 on adults.
N

 

[mrrobxc]

Your Bolivian can handle the higher temps fine. Mine is in with discus at 86 degrees.

I'd up the number of discus to 6 and thin out the rest if the fish. You'll want 6 to diffuse aggression between them.

 

[FMA4ME]

I'd vote against only 3 Discus also, 6 is better to spread out aggression. I just kept a Bolivian Ram with my 7 Discus in a 75. Unfortunately it recently died. Not sure why, it just stopped eating. It was only in there about a month so I guess it could have been sick, but it didn't bother the Discus in that time. I think a mated pair would be different though, I'd watch out if you go that route.

 

[SandNukka15]

I currently have a dirted...75 planted + sump with 8....4 inch discus....15 black neons....20 neons....10 ghost shrimp and 3 blue mystery snails.....I do a 90% water change once every 4 days .....everything is healthy..... if I were you I would keep at least 6 discus.....

 

[convict360]

I'd vote 5-6 discus, I'd also be suspect of the rams and apistos in that set-up.

Also on the topic of 150 for adult discus, I'd buy juveniles and grow them out; sure you're going to have to invest a good 5-6 months before they start to really command presence, but I've seen juveniles for between £10-15 (around 20 dollars), I personally could only justify the 150 cost on adults if i was A) rich or B) buying adults for breeding purposes.

 

[Lawlboom]

I always wondered. Spend 30$ on juvies. Does the cost of the extra water changes (For those of us with city water), heating and aging water and aggressive feeding (4 times a day at beefheart) for 5+ months eventually end up being the same as 150$ per adult.