Current community advice

[450rdawg]

All,

I wanted to run my current set up with you all and see if I have the room for any more discus and if the current set up I have is going to be sustainable, long term, for my discus tank. It is strictly set up for the entertainment of my family and I intend on keeping them (the fish that is, the family is still debatable).

My tank is a 150 tall that measures 48"x24"x30". I have 4 discus in it right now that range from 3"-4". I also have 2 green corys, one peppered cory, 12 black neons, 9 regular neons, 5 glow light tetras and 1 clown loach. I know that the regular neons probably won't last that long but I mainly used them to condition the tank before I introduced the discus. I do have quite a few plants in there but don't plan on completely covering it up with them. I would really like to have 8-10 discus in the tank but want to know if this set up has the room to house them all. Please let me know what you think.

My filtration system is a rainbow/lifeguard unit. I have the chemical and mechanical cylinders. In the chemical unit, I have peat moss and the mechanical unit is filled with Ehfisubstrat. The filter pumps into a double bio-wheel set up.

I just want to make sure I can get away with having 8-10 discus.

[Elliots]

You do not say how often or how much water you change. With a reasonable water change plan you could possibly go to 15 Discus! 8-10 should be no problem. Also you Cardinals may or may not disappear quickly. You never know about them.

[450rdawg]

I do about 40% once per week.

[Baygon]

40% I say you could go up to 8 discus...regarding your cardinal tetras I have a 10G plant tank with 6 cardinals for almost 2 yrs already and still look fine and shiny


B

[camuth8]

If you want healthy discus, I'd go for 40% w/c at least 3 times a week until they're a bit older. Depending on how active your neons are, when the discus get bigger(6"-7") they will probably get eaten. If they're a fast group, they'll probably be able to escape.

[450rdawg]

I appreciate everyone's feedback but just so I'm clear, I don't have cardinals, I have regular neons. I can do more water changes if necessary, just don't know if what I have now would require more. Back when I kept them before, I only did about 40% every two weeks and had 4 adults in a 45 gallon tank and had them for several years. I don't mind the changes because they're quites easy with my current set up.

BTW, this website is awesome!!

[camuth8]

Ok. With adults, you don't have to do as many water changes as juvies, but you should probably do more than once a week.