New Discus Tank Setup

[norm3000]

So I walked into a Salvation Army Thrift store on Monday, looking for lamps, and ended up walking out (not litterally, had to get a truck to move it) with a 60 Gal tank and nice wood stand for $100.

First off I want to thank everyone who recommended Oxy-Clean for cleaning an old tank. It would have taken me hours to scrape the whole thing down, but with Oxy-Clean and a scouring pad the thing looked like new in 20 minutes.

Next, I'm planning on setting up a Discus tank. Actually, what I'd like to do is have 2 Discus, 3 Clown Loaches and a pleco or 2. I'm planning on using Onyx Sand for the substrate, a Rena Filstar XP3 canister filter, pressurized CO2, 3 Watts Per Gallon Light.

Ok, so I'm looking for suggestions on a couple things.

What kinda of light systems would you recommend? I want the tank to be heavily planted with some broad leaf plants.

How many inches of substrate? and how many bags would that be?

When mixing other fish with Discus, do you still prepare your tank for the ideal Discus environment? (86 Degrees F, Very Soft water etc etc). Or do you go for something in between?

-Norm

[elgecko]

If you want to keep Discus I would recommend a tank spacifically for them. You can have 83 degrees F for them.
You might want to consider a barebottom tank for them also. I had my fish in a planted tank. I gravel vac and did water changes twice a week and it was not enough to keep up with them. Over the 8 months they were in the tank they plants progressively got worse. I ended up setting up a 29 gallon bare bottom tank for my breeding pair. It is much easier to clean and the discus look much better.

[elgecko]

Just wanted to add, if you do not know about it already
http://www.simplydiscus.com/forum/

[Rushdude]

Check out the article in the articles forum about discus. There is a lot of information in their.

[anonapersona]

Barebottom with plants on wood can work well it seems. I've got juvenile disucs in a 105 gallon tank with 2 small bits of mopani wood with java ferns. I have multiple filters on this tank, a Hydro V sponge air driven, a Penguin 330 with biowheels and sponges, and a HOT Magnum 250. The HOT makes a good circulation in the tank, pointed counterclockwise across the back wall and all debris collects below it, so the tank is really easy to clean. I'm intending to add more and more wood to the tank, as I see if the fish health stays good.