Discus in a 32 gallon

[Dkarc]

sorry, i do %20 wkly. if i could find something better than 5gal buckets a 50% change wouldnt be so bad. problem is i just dont have room for 5-6 buckets to age.

someone said there had to be a compatibility chart, fosters and smith has one i dont know how accurate it is but it looks fairly decent. also says discus prefer 79-86 degree water. chart

You can use a rubbermaid 55 gallon trash can that you can get from Home Depot for storing water to age it...I have used those in the past with no problems...just be sure that it doesnt have wheels...dont want it to tip over in the middle of the night...

-Ryan

 

[Dkarc]

i'm against keeping discus with any kind of plecos, your chart said yes. you can keep discus happy from 84 to 90 degrees, ideal is 86. somebody just recomended rams for my system too, which from my research looks like great idea. i'm going to get a pair of german blue rams as soon as the store will get them in.

The secret is the type of pleco to keep with discus...use the smaller ones like a bushy nose pleco that gets 4" long. They arent large enough, nor fast enough to latch onto a discus in the night. When it comes to very young fry at 1"> in size, then I prefer to use a big common pleco....one of those that get 10" long as they do a better job at keeping the sides clean, but are too big to latch onto a discus fry.

Can you get by with lesser water changes? Of course. But if you really want your discus to flourish and reach their 6"+ potential, then more water changes are necessary. Ever see a 10" discus?? I have. They dont get that big on weekly water changes...nope. multiple water changes everyday gets them to that immense size. Granted, not everyone can do such frequent water changes, but to each his own...

-Ryan

 

[z71silverado98]

The secret is the type of pleco to keep with discus...use the smaller ones like a bushy nose pleco that gets 4" long. They arent large enough, nor fast enough to latch onto a discus in the night. When it comes to very young fry at 1"> in size, then I prefer to use a big common pleco....one of those that get 10" long as they do a better job at keeping the sides clean, but are too big to latch onto a discus fry.

Can you get by with lesser water changes? Of course. But if you really want your discus to flourish and reach their 6"+ potential, then more water changes are necessary. Ever see a 10" discus?? I have. They dont get that big on weekly water changes...nope. multiple water changes everyday gets them to that immense size. Granted, not everyone can do such frequent water changes, but to each his own...

-Ryan

i realize a 10" discus would be beautiful, but i havent the room to properly house such a large fish, if it will stay within the 6" range that would be perfect, a little smaller than that wouldnt even bother me, as long as the fish is healthy.

i will def. look for a rubbermaid and switch to 50% wkly thats not too much more work from what i currently do. but 50% daily or multiple 50s daily would be way too much for me. Would wheels be ok if i were the industrial can and base? the thing would sit in my garage while unused then stay in my room overnight to age, no one will run into it.

i suppose id have to pony up for an adequate filter aswell? im running a whisper 40 constantly and have an extra 30 to scrub after re-arranging plants. i was considering an aquaclear 60 but i just cannot justify needing one for such a heavily planted tank.