How many Discus

Not trying to start an argument here, but based on your sig from earlier, its kinda understandable to have people react as they did. I chose not to post anything in this thread earlier today specifically because I didn't want to start any arguments. Now that it more accurately reflects what is going on, we can all do a better job to help you.

One thing I did notice, your sig says you have a 540g tank. Is that a typo, or did you decide to opt out of the 200g tank and go bigger?

We'd need to have Lupin voice his opinion to see whether or not this is true, but to my awareness, discus and clown loaches are compatible. The 540 would make a wonderful playground for a school of say 10 clown loaches and 20-30 discus. This idea, of course, doesn't tend to the silver dollars nor the oscar. I wouldn't keep the oscar with discus, nor would I keep the silver dollars with them.

I do like the idea of keeping a 55 for breeding/growing out discus. By the sounds of it, you have a lot of work ahead of you, but it should prove to be most rewarding in the end. Just a curiosity, how do you intend to set up the drip system? What flow rate are you aiming for?
 
Yeah i understand why people could have gotten so upset seeing my sig, and i did mention that it was mostly my fault. And no worries you won't be starting an arguement.

No the 540 gallon is not a typo, that is where my oscar and all my other larger fish are going to go. Allthough now you got me thinking about putting the oscar in 200 gallon with a few friends. And using the 540 for a whole bunch of discus, and my clown loaches (possibly a couple more). But I did want to put the discus in a nice planted tank, and the 540 will need tons and tons of light so maybe i will put them in the 200. I dunno but i guess i better figure this out.
 
remember the light rules change on larger tanks(WPG)

usually large tanks have more surface which can be exposed to light.

;)
 
think...metal halide
 
How many 150w halides do you guys think he'd need to effectively have a med/high light environment for his plants in 3' of water? I'm thinking something like 5, but I've little experience with them.

A 200g discus tank would still look phenomenal, and with either tank size your oscar will be ecstatic. :D The clown loaches may eventually need the 540, but would do great in a 200g tank for a number of years as well.
 
part of it depends on the reflectors.. with efficient reflectors you may only need 3-4 but part also depends on length of the tank.

MH are very good at getting light to tanks you can also find them in higher powers too.

150s are pretty much on the low end for MH.
 
gatotsu77 said:
We'd need to have Lupin voice his opinion to see whether or not this is true, but to my awareness, discus and clown loaches are compatible. The 540 would make a wonderful playground for a school of say 10 clown loaches and 20-30 discus. This idea, of course, doesn't tend to the silver dollars nor the oscar. I wouldn't keep the oscar with discus, nor would I keep the silver dollars with them.
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I agree. Clown loaches are indeed compatible and will work in a large tank however there are a few exceptions and this involves usually small tanks wherein the lack of space tends to cramp both fish thus the discus becomes annoyed and feel constantly harassed by the presence of the clown loaches swimming around them especially when the loaches 'whisker' them. This can be avoided in a large tank. Since both prefer warm temperature, both will definitely work well. The only difference is clowns like some gentle currents in the tank however if you could locate a small area for the loaches to 'fight' the currents out of reach from the discus, it can work.

The other issue is the food. Most discus are grazers meaning they often spend a little more time trying to eat their foods whereas loaches simply pig out and vacuum everything before anything else can even grab their share. This is not usually a problem however if the food sinks slowly to the bottom allowing the discus time to eat them while distracting the loaches with other foods.. You will be surprised how some discus will eventually start eating voraciously thus enabling them to compete well with the loaches.

I'd keep adult discus only with the clowns. Juveniles will only have more trouble outstripping the loaches their share of foods.
 
the 540 is roughly 7 feet long, and 3.5 feet wide, and as mentioned before 3 feet deep. How many of what type of metal halide would i need for this tank???? How much would these cost to run????

Also a new thought, if i put say 20 Discus in the 540 and planted added my clown loaches (5) plus say 3 or 4 more. What should i add as scooling fish??? Some type of tetras, or add to my silver dollars school and put them in there????
 
Discus and clown loaches can be kept nicely together if the tank is large enough to accomodate both, I have done it. But I wouldn't add the loaches until the discus are sub-adults. You're very lucky to have such large tanks and I'm very jealous!!
 
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