Discus in a 55

[wolf13]

well, I might be getting a cheap 55 shortly and am debating completly redoing my 29g (only a month or so old) into it for more space, or setting it up as a a barebottom tank for discus (yes, i have been reading a lot, i tried to register on simplydiscus but still can't post there, so I have an idea of the maintance involved). The idea is when I finally am transferred, I will be able to get a large tank (150+g) for a planted community and put the discus in there once they are grown (i intend to do a barebottom growout irregardless), but that is long term and very nebulous on time frame, so for right now assume the limit is the 55. Since I was wanting to eventually put these in a community tank, i'd like to have some cardinals in there as well after the discus get a little size so they are accustomed to them and I can hopefully spot aggression issues.

So, what is the limit on a 55, doing frequant water changes and eventually adding cardinal tetra's? is 6 and eventually 6-9 cardinals to much if it ends up being two years before i move since i keep hearing 6 as the magic number? 55 is the absolute max for tank size i'd think of doing in my place now so if i don't move, thats my limit.

[BIGgourami]

i would only do 3 or 5 in a 55, don't do four as agression seems to increase around this # for some reason. if t's a growout i assume you could get away with 5-6 but that narrows the time frame you have to keep these fish happy&healthy. along with the cardinal you could try rummynosed tetras as the red on their noses fades with poor water and are a good indicator of such.

[kurtr12]

Don't bother getting the cardinals now, just wait until you get closer to setting up the planted tank. Generally the rule of thumb is 10 gallons per discus, so you can have 5 or 6 in a 55. I have 6 in my 55 and they are just fine.

[Rbishop]

I'd keep it at 3-5.

[aquaman#1]

Yeah only put three in a 55 gallon

[reptileguy2727]

With three you run the high risk of 2 'pairing off' (hanging out together all the time) and bullying the third. I have 5 in my 55. I started with 7 but two were bullied too much and had to be removed. There is usually a pecking order in a school. I also have two bristlenose plecos and a dozen bloodfin tetras. If you have the filtration and keep up with the water changes (75% once or twice a week) you should be fine with about 5 and a small school of cardinals (if not a small school of sterbai cories as well).

[Dkarc]

You can easily keep 6-8 in a 55 without any fear of overcrowding later down the road. Keep the water warm and clean and they'll do fine.

-Ryan

[number1sixerfan]

Five to Eight is very doable if you keep up with the water changes. About 3 20-30%per week would be ideal. Discus are a social fish and they like the company of others so I would advise against having only three.

Be careful though, if they are young they will require more feedings per day and that will contribute to a high waste amount and bioload. Just keep up with the water changes!

[wolf13]

this bears thinking about, if it was less then 5, I wouldn't even think about it. So space is not the real issue, its water quality (i knew water quality was an issue, and had already resigned my self to frequant water changes if i was going to grow juvi discus). Would a small sump/wet dry like a 10g be worth even looking at to increase the volume? otherwise, i was figuring one larger or two smaller canisters (eheim 2217 be too much for a 55?).

[reptileguy2727]

Don't do a sump, the extra water is not much compared to the size of the tank and could easily be compensated for with water changes.

[kmail5776]

this bears thinking about, if it was less then 5, I wouldn't even think about it. So space is not the real issue, its water quality (i knew water quality was an issue, and had already resigned my self to frequant water changes if i was going to grow juvi discus). Would a small sump/wet dry like a 10g be worth even looking at to increase the volume? otherwise, i was figuring one larger or two smaller canisters (eheim 2217 be too much for a 55?).

A sump/wet dry setup is great for biological filtration. The other way is to get a big sponge filter, which can sustain the same amount of bacteria. Increasing water volume by getting a sump is, I think, the wrong way of looking at a sump.


Five to Eight is very doable if you keep up with the water changes. About 3 20-30%per week would be ideal. Discus are a social fish and they like the company of others so I would advise against having only three.

idk if 20-30% PWCs 3x a week is enough to keep the nitrates down. I'd say 50% at least per PWC.

[VTwinFanatic]

For a growout tank...you could get by w/ 6-8 discus...I've got 6 right now in my 55 w/ no problems...I have two sponge filters for biological filtration...you dont need much in the way of mechanical since you're going barebottom and should be doing atleast 2 w/cs a week. I typically do 2 @ 50% and my discus are fine and healthy. Frequent feedings are also a necessity for young discus growing quickly...3-4 feedings daily (small feedings)...good luck