Help Me Decide, Please

[snoopy65]

I am in the process of deciding which discus to purchase for my 110 gal tank (which is actually only 107 gal 72" X 18" X 19"). It has a medium light gravel substrate at about 3/4" and a "planted look" background. The tank's params right now are temp 80F (slowly increasing to ?), 0 Am, 0 Ni, 5 Na (before h2o change). In addition, I am also trying to figure out what can stay and what has to be moved. My bridgesii snails have been thinned down and separated into other tanks. In the tank right now is:

Livestock:

2 Bosemani Rainbows, 9 Rummynose Tetra, 25-30 Glolite Tetra (who can get them to hold still long enough to count!), 14 Green/Albino Aeneus Cory Cats, 3 BN Pleco, 1 Sajica (to be moved either in with the big boys in the 125 or a 20 by himself, which?), 2 female 3 spot Gourami, 4 Bolivian Rams, ?? MTS

Plants:

1 Lily, 3 Crypt Wendti, 2 Amazon Swords, 3 Anubias, 1 Giant Val, Rotala, Java Fern, Pennywort, Frogbit

After looking on many sites pertaining to discus strains, breeders, and distributors, I have decided to do Stendkers. I have read a couple of bad reviews but mostly great stuff on these discus. I have contacted Discus Hans directly and he is running a "free shipping special" for the month of July if you spend $180. I have narrowed my choices down to a few. They will be purchased at the 2 1/2" size and grown out. I just don't know which to get. Which will have the best color in my tank? Do I get all one strain? One of each? Mix it up? Help me decide.

Brilliant Turquoise
Red Turquoise
Blue Diamond
Marlboro Red
Snake Skin Red
Snake Skin Blue
Flachen Snake Skin


Just as a reminder, here is the tank.

 

[paperdragon]

If you're getting them for display only, not breeding, I'd go with one of each. Discus rainbows are pretty.

 

[msjinkzd]

What size are you getting? Any of the strains are nice, I really lilke the snake skin and flachen snake skin. I have the different turqs which are also nice. The size is important because that will determine the temperature of the tank. You will have to find out which of the fish you have now will work with the temps teh discus require, which is usually the biggest challenge. The rams should be ok. The aneus might be, but it might be a bit warm for them. The rummynose should be fine, not sur eon the glowlights temp range.

Just as an invert aside (since I know you like them too ), I keep amano shrimp and corona snails with my discus.

 

[snoopy65]

What size are you getting? Any of the strains are nice, I really lilke the snake skin and flachen snake skin. I have the different turqs which are also nice. The size is important because that will determine the temperature of the tank. You will have to find out which of the fish you have now will work with the temps teh discus require, which is usually the biggest challenge. The rams should be ok. The aneus might be, but it might be a bit warm for them. The rummynose should be fine, not sur eon the glowlights temp range.

Just as an invert aside (since I know you like them too ), I keep amano shrimp and corona snails with my discus.

I will be getting 2 1/2"-3". Yeah!! I can keep some inverts in there!!!!

 

[msjinkzd]

At that size, you will want the tank temp at 84-86. This makes it challenging to keep them with alot of other fish. I grew mine out with sterbai cory and bn. This was helpful as well because of the frequent feedings, the cories would eat uneaten foods and made my maintenance a little bit easier. Its alot of work to grow out small discus in a big established tank, but it can be done.

 

[Rbishop]

If not interested in breeding, I would mix it up for some variety. 3 each...Briliant T, Marlboro Red and Flachen Snake Skin....

 

[snoopy65]

At that size, you will want the tank temp at 84-86. This makes it challenging to keep them with alot of other fish. I grew mine out with sterbai cory and bn. This was helpful as well because of the frequent feedings, the cories would eat uneaten foods and made my maintenance a little bit easier. Its alot of work to grow out small discus in a big established tank, but it can be done.

My understanding is the aeneus is one of the cory cats that do well in warmer temps. I figure I will have to do 50 - 75% daily water changes daily. From reading, I know I am making more of a challenge for myself, but I just can't bring myself to do bare bottom. I am at home almost all of the time so the daily maintenance and multiple feedings aren't going to be a time issue for me.

If not interested in breeding, I would mix it up for some variety. 3 each...Briliant T, Marlboro Red and Flachen Snake Skin....

This is my first attempt at discus, so I think just the challenge of keeping their water the way it needs to be will be challenge enough for now. Breeding may come in the future though.

 

[pinkertd]

I'd mix it up too, I love having the different colors! The only time I'd consider all one type is for wilds. I'd get 2 of everything except the marlboro red. Being pigeon based, it might pepper up over time and they don't always look the prettiest then. If you're looking for a discus in that color range melons are nicer with only insignificant spot of pepper maybe on the nose. And if you only want to go with one blue I'd pick brilliant turq over blue diamond.

PS....discus are not color blind. My 2 albinos stick together, my two melons stick together and my two blue cobalts stick together and they are not pairs, they are all females.

 

[snoopy65]

I'd mix it up too, I love having the different colors! The only time I'd consider all one type is for wilds. I'd get 2 of everything except the marlboro red. Being pigeon based, it might pepper up over time and they don't always look the prettiest then. If you're looking for a discus in that color range melons are nicer with only insignificant spot of pepper maybe on the nose. And if you only want to go with one blue I'd pick brilliant turq over blue diamond.

PS....discus are not color blind. My 2 albinos stick together, my two melons stick together and my two blue cobalts stick together and they are not pairs, they are all females.

Melons aren't on the stocklist, but if I go mixed, I would like something reddish. Are Alenquer or Santerem reddish or orangish in person? Or are they brown? I really like the Brilliant the best, so I know I am getting at least one of those. I really like the Snakeskin Flachen too.

 

[bazil323]

If not breeding (I'm no discus expert, but I'd think strains should stay together for purity), I would get a couple of 2-3 colors. So, 2 or 3 of turquoise, 2 or 3 of another color, etc. I just like the way they look together, and then you could have something that almost everyone will like. Sometimes when you get all of 1 color it can be really striking, but having a mix of 2-3 colors can look really nice as well if they are complementary. I don't care for having one each of several colors, just looks jumbled and chaotic to me.