Discus in an 80L (21g) planted aquarium??

[am07f]

Hello,

I have built and maintained many coral reef and african cichlid aquariums, but never have i gotten the chance to have a discus aquarium. I set up an 80L (21gallon) cube aquarium, meant for saltwater (3 chamber filtration in the back), as a planted aquarium. It is well established, currently with 10 cardinal tetras, small upsidedown catfish, 1 shrimp, 3 snails, numerous plants, and a small/medium sized Discus. I purchased the fish from my LFS which insisted it was fine for my tank. Of course returning home i began doing homework and realized discus prefered small groups and a much larger aquarium.

Currently the fish is 3 days in, eating live blood worms from my tweezers but still breathing very heavily. It is now in the front of the tank and no longer hiding in the back, but every now and then returns to hiding behind plants breathing heavily.

The tank has 0 nitrates/nitrites/ammonia, or at least below detection.
The pH though is a little high, around 7.6-7.8. I didnt want to start meddling with the pH before the discus was settled.
The temperature is around 26C (78F).

Other than maybe lowering the pH and raising the temperature, are there any other things that could be causing the heavy breathing still? I asked the LFS and they said discus require a week, but im not sure i trust them anymore. Can it be done, or is the tank just too small?
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af10/am07f/IMG_1257_zpsb1d87f36.jpg (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/am07f/media/IMG_1257_zpsb1d87f36.jpg.html)
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af10/am07f/IMG_1254_zps7ed2863a.jpg (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/am07f/media/IMG_1254_zps7ed2863a.jpg.html)
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af10/am07f/IMG_1258_zps2180c5fd.jpg (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/am07f/media/IMG_1258_zps2180c5fd.jpg.html)
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af10/am07f/IMG_1260_zpsdae82dbd.jpg (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/am07f/media/IMG_1260_zpsdae82dbd.jpg.html)
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af10/am07f/IMG_1261_zps97f07187.jpg (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/am07f/media/IMG_1261_zps97f07187.jpg.html)

[Second Hand Pat]

Try adding an airstone for extra air to help with the breathing. Also raise the temp to 82, 78 is not good for discus. What is your plan with this discus since you know the tank is way too small? ...and welcome to Simply. I would suggest doing some reading in the beginner section as you will find a much larger tank (55 minimum, 75 better) and a group of six or better are minimum requirements for successful discus keeping. Also best to start with a BB tank while learning the ropes.

[SMB2]

The Ph is fine, the temp should be up to 82, but that is speaking in terms of a discus tank. You do not have a tank that works for discus and certainly a single discus will likely not fare well in any tank. Discus are a schooling fish with most people here rec. 6-8 (sub-adults/adults) as a minimum; at 10 gal. per fish.
It is a lovely tank with many of the nice qualities of a SW cube. This system size however wont lead to successful discus care.

[am07f]

I actually added an airstone today to see if that would help and im turning the heater up slowly.

Im not sure what my plan is now, now that i know. I have the LFS telling me one thing, and a couple online sources saying its been done. Is there really no possible way to keep this fish happy and healthy in the system i have? If socialness is an issue, getting small juvenile ones wouldn't help?




Try adding an airstone for extra air to help with the breathing. Also raise the temp to 82, 78 is not good for discus. What is your plan with this discus since you know the tank is way too small? ...and welcome to Simply. I would suggest doing some reading in the beginner section as you will find a much larger tank (55 minimum, 75 better) and a group of six or better are minimum requirements for successful discus keeping. Also best to start with a BB tank while learning the ropes.

[greenphantom1994]

that's a lovely looking set up you have there. really eye catching! you probably could raise that one discus by itself to an adult with a few tetras and probably not have to change the tank. but do you really just want one discus? when you see the range of discus available you wont be able to get a big enough tank lol :)

[ericNH]

Well, your tank is beautiful. But my experience with less than 6 discus has always resulting in bullying. If you want to try it, I would stick with just that one discus alone. And don't fiddle with the pH - just my 2 cents.

[am07f]

Thank you!! ;)

Unfortunately, now ive noticed that the heavy breathing is only using one gill! The right gill is flat and appears to be moving with each breath, but not opening. The left gill is opening wide and quickly.



that's a lovely looking set up you have there. really eye catching! you probably could raise that one discus by itself to an adult with a few tetras and probably not have to change the tank. but do you really just want one discus? when you see the range of discus available you wont be able to get a big enough tank lol :)


Well, your tank is beautiful. But my experience with less than 6 discus has always resulting in bullying. If you want to try it, I would stick with just that one discus alone. And don't fiddle with the pH - just my 2 cents.

[am07f]

Update...

Im feeding live blood worms again and she is eating them straight from my tweezers, but still somewhat heavy breathing. Sometimes both gills working, sometimes it switches closed from right to left. Water parameters are still good, aeration was added and the temp is up to 82. Ive been doing water changes every couple of days.

[a.person61]

Can you please post some close up shots on the discus? We may find some clues to help this fish.

Sent from my GT-P1000 using Tapatalk 2

[SMB2]

"One gill breathing" is pretty common in all fish. The gill that is being used will move more rapidly to make up for the closed down one.
The cause can be nothing, water parameters (ammonia seems to be the biggest irritant), other chemicals in the water and bacterial/parasitic diseases.
Is your test kit reliable?
As far as diseases, that requires the Emergency Room.

[DiscusLoverJeff]

The down side to your nice setup is, the discus will never grow properly in a tank that small. What you have is a "nano" tank and is usually used for small reef tanks or shrimp tanks.

If you do not see a bigger tank anytime soon in your future, I would advise selling or giving the discus to someone who has a much larger tank and more discus.

[jmf3460]

I agree this tank is too small, but if just one discus can be happy I do not see a more happy place than this beautiful planted tank. He could just be freaked out by being alone and by the lights, they are quite bright. what are the lights by the way they are perfect for the plants.

[pcsb23]

The down side to your nice setup is, the discus will never grow properly in a tank that small. What you have is a "nano" tank and is usually used for small reef tanks or shrimp tanks.

If you do not see a bigger tank anytime soon in your future, I would advise selling or giving the discus to someone who has a much larger tank and more discus.I agree.

[am07f]

Thank you everyone for the compliments and advice!

The one gill breathing has stopped, and ive noticed a complete change in behavior. Now she(assuming sex) swims around the tank like she owns the place. As soon as i walk up to the tank she shoots to the surface ready for food, still eating live bloodworms straight from the forceps. No more hiding in the back or heavy breathing.

Currently im living in Amsterdam, and i plan to move back to the states in a year. This tank is just another project of mine which i plan on having to take down and sell. Do discus grow rather quickly? Would a year still stunt the growth?
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af10/am07f/IMG_1347_zps27d03dca.jpg (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/am07f/media/IMG_1347_zps27d03dca.jpg.html)
http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af10/am07f/IMG_1346_zps53b962ae.jpg (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/am07f/media/IMG_1346_zps53b962ae.jpg.html)

[am07f]

Thank you everyone for the compliments and advice!!

[ericNH]

Yes, a year of improper care will most definitely stunt your discus. I severely stunted one of my first discus in less than half a year, and I'm pretty sure it took a lot less time to do that. I think even 1 bad month is enough to permanently stunt them to some extent

And yes, if kept properly juvie discus are VERY hungry and need to eat a lot, and they do grow quickly under those conditions.

If I were you I'd be tempted to keep that one discus anyway. If you don't plan on loading that tank up with other fish, I think you may just have enough room to grow it to a decent 5 or 6 inches, provided all other parameters are met. But I'm new, and am still making mistakes, so keep that in mind :) Good luck!