Need help setting up a discus tank.....?

Question

I have a 40 gal tank that currently has river rock gravel, lots of fake plants and 2 large pieces of driftwood. I am using a marineland 400 filter which is rated for a tank twice the size and has 2 bio wheels with one of those being already established froma previous tank . I am currently have 3 corys and a pleco in the tank because I am still trying to figure out the "focal point" fish. I will be adding a peat moss bag to the filtration to help with the hardness which is slightly high and also a heater since my tank is at 80 degrees right now. I am looking for any other suggestions on set up before the fish and the recommended amount of juvenile discus (I was thinking 2-3). My main problem is I am getting conflicting information on the care from tank set up to parameters. Also I am not interested in breeding them Thanks

Answer 1

I'd say you need to get a couple of books and read up on the subject, its ok asking on here or in a specialist site but you will get conflicting information.

For me its all down to regular water changes and keeping the parameters the same.
PH 6.5, GH 2/5 KH 5 Temp 86.
I've slow turnover internal filters.
Full planted tank 72"x24"x24".
Undergravel heating, and normal heater, co2 system and air pump (for night time)
I use a mix 75/25 R.O. water (reverse osmosis) tap water.

I'd never use chemical buffers these can breakdown quickly and with low hardness this can cause a crash or spike.
Peat is fine but again if your using tap water with a buffer in nothing will happen for a few hours then the buffer will break down and your PH can crash, you have to find a stable way to produce water before it goes in, and in such away that the next time you do a water change its the same everytime.

Most people and literature will advise you keep at least six fish, as they set up a pecking order and will constantly chase each other off, if you have less than that number then one fish will constantly be picked on and die and so on till you have one fish left. Some will say that's not the case but considering these fish can live for 10yr+ ask them how long there's lasted.

These fish can grow to between 6"/8" occassionally you'll get the odd one larger but thats the norm, they require a lot of feeding from young to keep the round shape and not to become elongated, however if they fed 4 or 5 times a day in small amounts they grow quickly and can gain full size in about 6/8 mths. Of course that leads us back to water changes I do 30/40 pct each week.

When I was breeding them I used a 40 gallon tank just for the pair with another 30 gallon sump for filtration, fairly elaborate but I must admit i was able to control the water parameters even better that way and the water was easy to change and syphoning each day once the young were free swimming from there parents meant they could be fed and cleaned in 20mins.

everyone will have all sorts of little facts and short cuts, but the bottom line is stability and water changes, get that right and your almost there.


.

Answer 2

Setting Up A Discus Tank

Answer 3

The problem with fish that are sensitive like discus is that you will always get conflicting information. The truth is that there is no one set way to keep fish. A set up that works great for you might be a nightmare for others. It sounds like you are off to a good start. This is a really good discus site that may help you: http://www.simplydiscus.com/library/index.shtml

Answer 4

discus as i am sure u know, are not really that easy to care for.

Your right with thepeat moss, but you should look into water conditioners that will make the water low in ph, anything to match amazon conditions.

There are plenty of water conditioners that will do this.

Adult discus are really big, my friend has 6 adults in a 150 gallon and these fishes are huge, about 12-14 inches. So 40 gallons isnt really much for discus. But i would try and look for 2 of them.