Bottem feeders w/ discus

[Discus-n00b]

Ok i plan on having 6 discus 2"-3" to start in my 55gal.

Going to have 2 AC500's unless that is to much/ or i need 1 AC500 and 1 other filter.
2 sponge blocks
1 airstone
Bare Bottem

Can i put 1 MAYBE 2 Clown Loaches in the tank?

[Abercrombie6202]

Well i actually think that's cruel, Bottomfeeders like to hide and are usually nocturnal. I think they would be really stressed in a BB tank with no where to hide. IMO

I only keep bottom feeders in a tank where they can hide, you will notice fish are more colorful, friendlier, and come out more often if they know they have some where to hide if they get scared!

Also can Clown Loaches stay in discus tempertures? Sometimes you have to raise the heat to 90+ degrees

[Discus-n00b]

True about cruelness........guess i didn't think it all the way through...explains my name.

I have read that Clown Loaches and Discus can be kept together and that the Clowns eat the scraps of food that was missed by the discus.

[Carol_Roberts]

You don't need bottom feeders. Discus love to eat all the scraps off the bottom. Anything they don't eat you will see to siphon out.

[Discus-n00b]

Ok thanx!

[keith_cny]

Two AC500's is quite a bit of filter for a 55 G. I have one AC300 and two sponge filters in a 55G. Works pretty good. Have the same setup in a 75G tank which also works well and seems like pretty good water movement still.

Carol,
What do you use in your 55's??

Keith

[Carol_Roberts]

I'm glad you caught that Keith.

I use one Aqua Clear 500 in a 55 gallon tank. You could add an air driven sponge filter if you like, but 2 AC 500's would be overkill on that size tank

[Anna Piranha]

2 things about Clown Loaches in a Discus tank:

1) I had them. The first time I introduced the air stone they drove themselves mad in the bubbles and were dead the next morning.

2) More importantly, they are scale-less fish, which are more sensitive to some medications. Treatments for Ich will kill them. There may be other medications as well, that will do them in.

Oh wait, there is a third thing...here it is:
3) Sometimes larger Clown Loaches can be aggressive. They take some pleasure in nipping and chasing. Even when you raise them from wee things. Some just grow up bad :bandana:

[Sketchy]

...a small school of cory cats will work out just fine though!