Another Discus newbie with questions

1877 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by fuzz16, Mar 1, 2007

Mrs. crabtree

Discussion Starter · Feb 28, 2007

Setting up a 72 bow. I would like to get six or eight discus, two to four small plecos (max out at five to six inches), and possibly a couple cory's. Now some questions:

Will this stock list work? I've read that discus like to eat off the bottom and wonder if this would be too many bottom dwellers?

Bubbles?

Real or fake plants? If real what about lights-need strong lights for plants but discus like low light.

Powerhead(s)?

What about the almond leaves I read about? Are they beneficial?

Any other suggestions?

Thank you.

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FDStation152

· #2 · Feb 28, 2007

They do indeed like to pick at food off the bottom but get most of their food before it gets there...they just tend to graze over the rest.

I rarely turn on the bubble wall in my tank...only as emergency aeration if needed...the discus doesn't seem to like it very much.

I'd go with real plants. Discus are very sensitive to water quality and real plants will help you maintain it. Go with plants don't require very high lighting and you won't have a problem.

Definitely skip the powerhead...discus definitely arent fans of strong currents.

Not too sure on the almond leaves so I'll leave that for someone else.

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hamdogg08

· #3 · Feb 28, 2007

..Not to mention discus look absolutely outstanding in a planted tank. I'd be careful with the plecos though. They're total salad eaters!

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Mrs. crabtree

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 28, 2007

I just read about some plecos potentially attaching to the sides of discus if the plecos are underfed. Does this sound realistic?

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hamdogg08

· #5 · Feb 28, 2007

I'd just avoid the plecos all together in a planted tank. There are other fish to eat algaebut leave plants alone like the otocinclus. There are others, but I can't think of them off the top of my head.

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musho3210

· #6 · Feb 28, 2007

Mrs. crabtree said:
I just read about some plecos potentially attaching to the sides of discus if the plecos are underfed. Does this sound realistic?

yes, that is the danger of almost all suckermouth catfish (plecos, otos, CAEs)

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Lupin

· #7 · Mar 1, 2007

Mrs. crabtree said:
I just read about some plecos potentially attaching to the sides of discus if the plecos are underfed. Does this sound realistic?

Yes but not all plecs are like that. Bristlenose plecs are still top recommendations along with otos despite the fact that most suckermouths will suck the slime.

Mrs crabtree said:
What about the almond leaves I read about? Are they beneficial?

FDStation152 said:
Not too sure on the almond leaves so I'll leave that for someone else.

You can use them if you like. Cheap alternatives for blackwater extract. Other options are driftwoods and peat.

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fuzz16

· #8 · Mar 1, 2007

i would go with 5 or 7, since odd numbers seem to make the fish better off.

ive never had luck with corys in the tempertures i keep mine at, 82F

i would get maybe one pleco, either a bristlenose or a clown pleco. in the wild discus spend thier day picking food from the bottom, and are slow fish to eat sometimes.

bubbles would be ok, i dont think the fish would mind the extra oxygen

ive never heard of discus liking low light...you can get real plants and use sword plants, water wisteria, red wentii, java fern, java moss. and the plants help keep the tank clean and healthier

discus dont like a lot of water flow that i have experianced, so the powerhead would be optional depending on what you want.

never heard of almond leaves...

and i have heard a lot of diverse opinions about carbon and i would recommend not using it with discus unless removing medication or when you first get them
also if you decide to go planted, id reccomend getting plants beforehand so thier settled in
when it comes to other fish in the tank, you will be limited. if you decide to do tank mates, make sure they can handle the temperture and arnt aggressive or eat to fast to the point the discus get none. neon or cardinal tetras are a good choice, german blue rams are too-dont get a pair though, they get aggressive when breeding and will pick on the discus.

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