Room for a new tank

catsmakemebark · 03-06-2007, 05:20 PM

Next week I'm cleaning out my basement. This means I get a room to keep all of my tanks. This also means I have room for a few more.

I've been planning on a 55 gallon to fill up some of the space. After poking around the web a bit, I fell in love with discus.

I'm definatly up for it. I've already got some knowledge on them so I don't have a lot of questions, but here are a few.

I've heard some catfish will suck on them and leave white circles. Will a common pleco be ok? He's getting to big for his current tank so I can either keep him with the discus or rehome him to a bigger tank.

I'm planning on heavly planting the tank when they are fully grown. Whats the highest light wattage for a planted tank, yet low enough so it doesn't hurt their eyes.

Sand or gravel? I prefer sand myself.

How should I prepare beefheart?

Also, I've heard you should not keep the heater vertical or else the female will lay her eggs on it and cause a whole mess of problems. They heater that comes with the tank wont be able to turn on it's side. Will slanting it be ok?

The plants are most likely going to be Amazon swords and other broad leafed plants. I'm getting 4 discus (I just need to find a good breeder to get them from). I'm not intrested in breeding, but if they want to spawn it's fine by me.

Ok, well that's it for now. I'll probably think of a few later.
Add as much information as you want!

wesleydnunder · 03-07-2007, 03:21 AM

I'll take a stab at these:
1. I wouldn't put a common pleco in with them but a bushy-noze or zebra would work.

2. I have 4 wpg over my 125 gallon and it doesn't seem to effect my discus adversely. I have to fertilized and inject co2 in this set-up so if you don't want to go that route you may want to go lower--though I haven't had too much luck with swords in low-light set-ups, but that may just be me.

3. Either sand or gravel can work. Each have their positives and their negatives. In the wild, discus live over white sand and detritus bottoms. If you go with sand just remember not to make it too thick--about a half inch to an inch thick. Any thicker and you run the risk of anaerobic pockets forming in the substrate.

4. I feed a variety of foods--beefheart mix, bloodworms, brine shrimp and occasionally tetra bits. My beefheart mix is high in vegetable matter.

5. If your discus spawn and try to use the heater to lay their eggs on, you can always put a shroud around the heater.

Hope this helps.

Mark

nursie · 03-07-2007, 06:26 AM

Just to add a few bits of info...
I have bristlenose plecs in with my discus, no problems. In fact..the breeder I got the discus threw in the BN's for free..he keeps them together. They clean up the substrait nicely.

I had an amazon sword in my low light tank for a couple of years. They do require ferts if you want to do that. I just pulled mine out becasue it was looking rather ratty, but if you are more attentive to a fert regieme, you will be fine. I have 80 watts over my 55. You could bump up a bit more and be ok. This is just what I had.

I have not prepared beefheart as of yet. I did find some already prepared and rotate with other foods such as Wes mentioned.

Ac ommon plec is too big for a 55 anyway. My other fish in with my discus are rasboras, some female bettas, bn plecs, and some brigs snails.

catsmakemebark · 03-07-2007, 07:33 AM

Thanks for the answers!

Does anyone know any good breeders around the midwest?

wesleydnunder · 03-07-2007, 10:28 AM

DaKine Discus here at AB is a discus breeder. I think he's in Kansas. Nursie got hers from him. He is extremely knowledgeable and has very good stock.

Mark

catsmakemebark · 03-08-2007, 02:27 PM

Ok, thanks! I'll try to contact him once I get my tank set up.

DaKineDiscus · 03-15-2007, 01:21 PM

Aloha Cats, I have some discus avaliable. I am in Nebraska and know of a well known Friend and breeder in Kansas City Mo. His facility is called KC Discus owner is Jack. He may be a bit closer and he also has a larger variety. Google him and give him a call. Or if your interested in the drive just let me know.

Mahalo, Ike

PS, Mahalo Mark for the reccomendation.

nursie · 03-15-2007, 03:08 PM

I'll chime in and say I have been very happy with my discus....and wow..Mark remembered where I got them!!
They could use some company...

Aussie_hippie_2 · 03-24-2007, 01:21 PM

I'd be wary of adding plecos, for the simple reason that most require (or at least prefer) a cooler tank at around the 77 mark, whereas obviously discus prefer a much warmer tank.

Are you prepared to dose/do CO2? Because that will be must at around 2.4WPG or higher.

Good luck!

sarcare · 03-25-2007, 08:56 AM

There are plecs that live in a variety of temps of water--some plecs prefer higher temps. In fact some will really thrive best in warmer water. I know tta keeps his zebras with his discus at warmer temps.

03-06-2007, 05:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
catsmakemebark Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 13	Room for a new tank Next week I'm cleaning out my basement. This means I get a room to keep all of my tanks. This also means I have room for a few more. I've been planning on a 55 gallon to fill up some of the space. After poking around the web a bit, I fell in love with discus. I'm definatly up for it. I've already got some knowledge on them so I don't have a lot of questions, but here are a few. I've heard some catfish will suck on them and leave white circles. Will a common pleco be ok? He's getting to big for his current tank so I can either keep him with the discus or rehome him to a bigger tank. I'm planning on heavly planting the tank when they are fully grown. Whats the highest light wattage for a planted tank, yet low enough so it doesn't hurt their eyes. Sand or gravel? I prefer sand myself. How should I prepare beefheart? Also, I've heard you should not keep the heater vertical or else the female will lay her eggs on it and cause a whole mess of problems. They heater that comes with the tank wont be able to turn on it's side. Will slanting it be ok? The plants are most likely going to be Amazon swords and other broad leafed plants. I'm getting 4 discus (I just need to find a good breeder to get them from). I'm not intrested in breeding, but if they want to spawn it's fine by me. Ok, well that's it for now. I'll probably think of a few later. Add as much information as you want!

03-07-2007, 03:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
wesleydnunder Resident Cannibal Join Date: May 2006 Location: La Marque, Tx. Posts: 2,279	I'll take a stab at these: 1. I wouldn't put a common pleco in with them but a bushy-noze or zebra would work. 2. I have 4 wpg over my 125 gallon and it doesn't seem to effect my discus adversely. I have to fertilized and inject co2 in this set-up so if you don't want to go that route you may want to go lower--though I haven't had too much luck with swords in low-light set-ups, but that may just be me. 3. Either sand or gravel can work. Each have their positives and their negatives. In the wild, discus live over white sand and detritus bottoms. If you go with sand just remember not to make it too thick--about a half inch to an inch thick. Any thicker and you run the risk of anaerobic pockets forming in the substrate. 4. I feed a variety of foods--beefheart mix, bloodworms, brine shrimp and occasionally tetra bits. My beefheart mix is high in vegetable matter. 5. If your discus spawn and try to use the heater to lay their eggs on, you can always put a shroud around the heater. Hope this helps. Mark __________________ If it can't be fixxed with a hammer, then you've got an electrical problem.

03-07-2007, 10:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
wesleydnunder Resident Cannibal Join Date: May 2006 Location: La Marque, Tx. Posts: 2,279	DaKine Discus here at AB is a discus breeder. I think he's in Kansas. Nursie got hers from him. He is extremely knowledgeable and has very good stock. Mark __________________ If it can't be fixxed with a hammer, then you've got an electrical problem.

03-25-2007, 08:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
sarcare Lost and Confused Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,904	There are plecs that live in a variety of temps of water--some plecs prefer higher temps. In fact some will really thrive best in warmer water. I know tta keeps his zebras with his discus at warmer temps. __________________ Reality--go 'way!

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03-07-2007, 06:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
nursie vroom...vroom... Join Date: May 2006 Location: Peoria, IL: USA Posts: 3,735	Just to add a few bits of info... I have bristlenose plecs in with my discus, no problems. In fact..the breeder I got the discus threw in the BN's for free..he keeps them together. They clean up the substrait nicely. I had an amazon sword in my low light tank for a couple of years. They do require ferts if you want to do that. I just pulled mine out becasue it was looking rather ratty, but if you are more attentive to a fert regieme, you will be fine. I have 80 watts over my 55. You could bump up a bit more and be ok. This is just what I had. I have not prepared beefheart as of yet. I did find some already prepared and rotate with other foods such as Wes mentioned. Ac ommon plec is too big for a 55 anyway. My other fish in with my discus are rasboras, some female bettas, bn plecs, and some brigs snails.

03-07-2007, 07:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
catsmakemebark Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 13	Thanks for the answers! Does anyone know any good breeders around the midwest?

03-08-2007, 02:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
catsmakemebark Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 13	Ok, thanks! I'll try to contact him once I get my tank set up.

03-15-2007, 01:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
DaKineDiscus Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 74	Aloha Cats, I have some discus avaliable. I am in Nebraska and know of a well known Friend and breeder in Kansas City Mo. His facility is called KC Discus owner is Jack. He may be a bit closer and he also has a larger variety. Google him and give him a call. Or if your interested in the drive just let me know. Mahalo, Ike PS, Mahalo Mark for the reccomendation.

03-15-2007, 03:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
nursie vroom...vroom... Join Date: May 2006 Location: Peoria, IL: USA Posts: 3,735	I'll chime in and say I have been very happy with my discus....and wow..Mark remembered where I got them!! They could use some company...

03-24-2007, 01:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
Aussie_hippie_2 Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Physically? Wisco. Mentally? The Mountains. Posts: 814	I'd be wary of adding plecos, for the simple reason that most require (or at least prefer) a cooler tank at around the 77 mark, whereas obviously discus prefer a much warmer tank. Are you prepared to dose/do CO2? Because that will be must at around 2.4WPG or higher. Good luck!

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