Are you thinking about trying discus...
- Thread starter SusieQ
- Start date
I have also read here and elsewhere that Rams, as well as various Apistos, do well with Discus. I'm getting ready to take the plunge myself, and have wanted to keep a shoal of tetras as dither fish, and Apitso Borelli, Agassiz or Trifasciata. Any experience here?
Also, and apologies if I just missed it in the thread, but why not grow out in a planted tank? Why start bare? Is it just a cleaning issue? And how fast do Discus typically grow? (If I'm going to be looking at a bare tank, I'd like to think about how long.)
Thanks all - Karl
Also, and apologies if I just missed it in the thread, but why not grow out in a planted tank? Why start bare? Is it just a cleaning issue? And how fast do Discus typically grow? (If I'm going to be looking at a bare tank, I'd like to think about how long.)
Thanks all - Karl
Discus require super clean water as juvies in order for them to grow and not be stunted. Unless you have a good hour to an hour and a half to spend on vacuuming your tank every day, bare bottom is the way to go. You can add driftwood and even plants in pots. I have my juvie discus tank lightly planted with a substrate, but I am a stay at home mom and have the time to spend on maintenance. Most say discus can grow up to about 14 months of age if given the right water parameters and good food.
The 2 biggest things to remember with discus is this. It is a discus tank first, anything else in the tank is secondary - period. Second is QT, QT, QT anything going into your discus tank for at least a month. Other wise you will have problems with the discus.
The 2 biggest things to remember with discus is this. It is a discus tank first, anything else in the tank is secondary - period. Second is QT, QT, QT anything going into your discus tank for at least a month. Other wise you will have problems with the discus.
I have been reading up on Discus recently and I have finally taken up the courage to try them out.
I do have a Dilemma/Issue though.
Lets start with the tank details first and then I will get to the issue I am worried about.
Tank Size: 75Gallon (standard Dimensions)
Filtration: Emperor BioWheel 350 x 2 (thinking of adding a sponge filter soon)
Temperature: 78degree F (I will increase as recommended in this thread)
Substrate: Gravel
Recent Water Param:
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 5-10
PH: 6.8
Tank is lightly planted with some low light plants including java moss
I also have 2 pieces of driftwood in the tank
Tank Mates include:
8-10 neon tetras (might add a few more)
7 BNP babies (1.5-2")
2 pairs of German Blue Rams
1 Rainbow Shark (might move to another tank)
1 Veiltail Angelfish (small)
Now, here is the issue:
I ordered in 6 Angelfish from a source and added them to my 75G tank (I didn't Quarantine). After 3 days I noticed Fin Rot (some claim to be velvet) on my Angelfish and 5 of them died really fast. I added some salt in the tank and changed the heater (my heater was bust and the temp in tank was 68degree F), but soon after I added salt, I lost all my female bettas (dont know if this is because of the disease spreading or if it was the salt). The salt is Kosher Salt (added 15 tea spoons). 2 days later I noticed one of my BNPs having a golden layer near the head. I caught him and noticed that his mouth area was all red. I moved him to my hospital tank right away.
I also used to have a lot of other community fish in this tank, and I gave away most of them (close to 45 fish) and just kept the Neons.
I want to make sure that the tank is clean of any possible disease when I add the Discus. What should I do?
I am getting a pair of Discus from a local breeder (same person whom I got the Rams from).
Right now, I am just thinking about doing lots of water changes frequently and keep the salt levels around the same for about 2 weeks. Am I in the right track?
I do have a Dilemma/Issue though.
Lets start with the tank details first and then I will get to the issue I am worried about.
Tank Size: 75Gallon (standard Dimensions)
Filtration: Emperor BioWheel 350 x 2 (thinking of adding a sponge filter soon)
Temperature: 78degree F (I will increase as recommended in this thread)
Substrate: Gravel
Recent Water Param:
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 5-10
PH: 6.8
Tank is lightly planted with some low light plants including java moss
I also have 2 pieces of driftwood in the tank
Tank Mates include:
8-10 neon tetras (might add a few more)
7 BNP babies (1.5-2")
2 pairs of German Blue Rams
1 Rainbow Shark (might move to another tank)
1 Veiltail Angelfish (small)
Now, here is the issue:
I ordered in 6 Angelfish from a source and added them to my 75G tank (I didn't Quarantine). After 3 days I noticed Fin Rot (some claim to be velvet) on my Angelfish and 5 of them died really fast. I added some salt in the tank and changed the heater (my heater was bust and the temp in tank was 68degree F), but soon after I added salt, I lost all my female bettas (dont know if this is because of the disease spreading or if it was the salt). The salt is Kosher Salt (added 15 tea spoons). 2 days later I noticed one of my BNPs having a golden layer near the head. I caught him and noticed that his mouth area was all red. I moved him to my hospital tank right away.
I also used to have a lot of other community fish in this tank, and I gave away most of them (close to 45 fish) and just kept the Neons.
I want to make sure that the tank is clean of any possible disease when I add the Discus. What should I do?
I am getting a pair of Discus from a local breeder (same person whom I got the Rams from).
Right now, I am just thinking about doing lots of water changes frequently and keep the salt levels around the same for about 2 weeks. Am I in the right track?
Hey guys,
I'm new to this forum and new to discus fish keeping. I am unsure of where to make a new post, so i figured i'd better start asking questions here instead of nothing. Basically, i have a 55g tank with 4 (6month old) discus that i retrieved from a lady who was selling them online (she's not a breeder or anything, she was leaving town an needed them gone). As soon as i put them in my tank everything seemed to go absolutely perfect. They immediately swam side to side, and even ate right out of my hand! Of the four however, theres the one runt that gets pushed around especially during feeding time. I've had them since Monday, so 4 days now, and i have not seen him/her eat. Unfortuanately he seems to be the loner of the crowd too which really concerns me. As a precaution, i purchased a tank divider (which at first i mistakenly made it too low where the other 3 fish nicely swam sideways overtop to join the lonely one, which i thought was odd.) I reinforced the divider making sure they would actually be divided this time. I am honestly looking for some advice in general for discus and for my current situation on my "pecking order" problem i have here. I attempted purchasing 6 neon tetras to eleviate the stress but i'm pretty sure my clown knife (baby) ate 5 of them!! Anyways, i hope someone can help me out and give me some good advise
you guys rock.
I'm new to this forum and new to discus fish keeping. I am unsure of where to make a new post, so i figured i'd better start asking questions here instead of nothing. Basically, i have a 55g tank with 4 (6month old) discus that i retrieved from a lady who was selling them online (she's not a breeder or anything, she was leaving town an needed them gone). As soon as i put them in my tank everything seemed to go absolutely perfect. They immediately swam side to side, and even ate right out of my hand! Of the four however, theres the one runt that gets pushed around especially during feeding time. I've had them since Monday, so 4 days now, and i have not seen him/her eat. Unfortuanately he seems to be the loner of the crowd too which really concerns me. As a precaution, i purchased a tank divider (which at first i mistakenly made it too low where the other 3 fish nicely swam sideways overtop to join the lonely one, which i thought was odd.) I reinforced the divider making sure they would actually be divided this time. I am honestly looking for some advice in general for discus and for my current situation on my "pecking order" problem i have here. I attempted purchasing 6 neon tetras to eleviate the stress but i'm pretty sure my clown knife (baby) ate 5 of them!! Anyways, i hope someone can help me out and give me some good advise
you guys rock.well, that sure puts an end to my idea to buy a discus! im sure glad you posted this before i wasted my money. not quite ready for such a committment.
I'm ready to jump into the discus game, but I have a question. Will discus jump out of a tank? I'm setting up 135g and wanted to leave the tops off so I can put terrestrial plants around the back with roots extending into the water.
discus are social schooling fish and need to be in groups, bare bottom is best for them.
ro/di water is really good. if you can't find ro/di water,or can't afford a ro/di unit. dechlornated aged water does good too.temp 84-86 and water changes water changes water changes! at least 50% every other day, good frozen food - blood worms,brine shrimp,beef heart( not to much of it though it has lots of fat in it) and a good flake food. a 55 gallon at minium, cover the back and under the tank blue with a sponge filter with a good size air pump,and a powerfilter with a pre-sponge on the intake tube.
forum.simplydiscus.com wonderful discus site also discusasahobby.com very good site
ro/di water is really good. if you can't find ro/di water,or can't afford a ro/di unit. dechlornated aged water does good too.temp 84-86 and water changes water changes water changes! at least 50% every other day, good frozen food - blood worms,brine shrimp,beef heart( not to much of it though it has lots of fat in it) and a good flake food. a 55 gallon at minium, cover the back and under the tank blue with a sponge filter with a good size air pump,and a powerfilter with a pre-sponge on the intake tube.
forum.simplydiscus.com wonderful discus site also discusasahobby.com very good site
