Set Up ?

[NemoTheDiscus]

Hi everyone. I am thinking about setting up my first discus tank. I would like to keep them in a 55g. Here are my questions:

1. How many adults could I keep in a 55g?
2. Is a bare bottom tank necessary?
3. When you change the water what does the term "aged" mean and how do you do it if it is necessary?


Thanks a lot. ;D

[angel12]

1. 5 -6 adults Max in 55 Gall tank
2. Barebottom is not realy necesary with adults however if juveniles it is better to go with Bare bottom
3. aged water is tap water left to stand ajnd aireated (ie put air through air pump through water to agitate it) this helps to settle the Ph down and also lets chlorine along with CO2 to escape from your water (you can test how volatile your ph is by getting a cup full of water from the tap test the Ph and then leave it overnight and test again if the ph is the same then that is good however some people see there ph drop or rise by quite some levels

HOWEVER this does not get rid of Chloramine wich is a different matter alltogether . if your water is treated with this then Prime is a good product

;D

[ronrca]

:thumbsup: what angel said!

I would also like to add that perhaps when first starting with discus, go with a bare bottom tank. It is much easier to clean and maintain. ;) JMO, JME! ;D

[Gibbs]

I am also just started up and I was wondering when first getting water to put in tank, can you just get tap from the sink and treat it from there. or do you get pre-treated or RO, basically What water do you put into the tank when first filling it with discus

[M0oN]

You can fill the water with ordinary tap water assuming you have no fish yet then work with it in a whole until you get it where you would like, all water after that will need to be treated before adding it to the tank...

[Carol_Roberts]

If no fish yet just fill tank from tap with warm water and add dechlor product.

I have some questions for you . . .
1. What is the pH of your water directly from the tap?
2. What is the pH of your water after a cup has set out on the counter overnight?
3. What type of filter will you use and
4. How are you going to cycle it?

[Gibbs]

1. 7.6
2. 7.8
3. Sponge filter
4. Not sure yet, maybe 50% daily...

[Carol_Roberts]

By cycle your filter I mean grow a bed of "good" nitrifying bacteria.

I'm sure you've heard of using dither fish, a better way is a "fishless" cycle with pure household ammonia.

Here are some links . . .
http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=21;action=display;threadid=6357

http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=21;action=display;threadid=7646

http://forum.simplydiscus.com//index.php?board=21;action=display;threadid=7107