How many small discus for a 20 gallon quarantine tank?

[dagray]

As I save money for the discus (I am going to buy two inch discus and grow them out) I was wondering how many I should get (no more than eight). Initially they will go into a 20 gallon tall for quarantine before they go to their home in the 75 gallon.

I am thinking I could easily do six and maximum of eight two inch sized Discus.

Having had discus in the 75 gallon tank before that got very large I am thinking six or maybe seven discus to purchase so that they have room in the 75 gallon tank.

The 20 gallon tank has reverse flow undergravel filtration, and the 75 gallon has an Aquaclear 110 and a Fluval 406 for filtration

I do my water changes with filtered tap water (filtered through a solid carbon block filter), I don't have chlorine or chloramine in my water (checked with a chlorine test kit [re-agent type test), ph is about 7 (more like 7.2). both tanks are well cycled, and get regular water changes.

[Willie]

How often can you change water?

[dagray]

How often can you change water?

Daily.

[Second Hand Pat]

Can you go bare bottom in the 20 gallon Dave? Really best for growing out youngsters.
Pat

[dagray]

Can you go bare bottom in the 20 gallon Dave? Really best for growing out youngsters.
Pat

I can if I either buy an air pump, or run sponge filters below power heads. The second option can be done if I direct the flow into a corner. I aerate the tank using venturies (air line) that stick out of the tank on one end and into the power head on the other. The flow of water creates suctions and brings air into the stand pipes which is forced under the filter plates.

I am only looking to quarantine for a week or two weeks at the maximum.

Keep in mind I am a couple months out from having the funds for the discus.

I have two 20 gallon tanks set up (one only has about three small bristlenose plecos, the other has no fish) so if need be I could split the discus into two groups.

[Second Hand Pat]

Dave, if you have ever raised small discus they need to be feed alot and generate a lot of poop, hence the bare bottom tank. Keeping the tank clean is really important for their health and honestly and if you have an under-gravel filter that will hold too much gunk to keep your little guys healthy.

You really want a simple sponge filter with only air. Power head could generate off much current. You mention quarantine, are you planned on adding fish with the discus. If yes would suggest waiting until they are adults.
Pat

[dagray]

I run reverse flow so the powerhead pulls water through a sponge filter, and then blows the water and air below the filter plates. Most people with undergravel run traditional by putting the power head on the stand pipe of the filter drawing water from the tank through the gravel. That said I totally understand the bare bottom is better concept for growing out discus.

I grew out a group of dime size discus starting in September/October 2012 time frame and ended up with six and seven inch discus including one proven pair (wigglers on the cone). That said I didn't do everything perfect. I started them in three plastic breeder boxes in the tank for eight discus (two with four discus each, one empty), when the fish were silver dollar sized I turned them loose in the 75 gallon tank with the Angels I had at the time (again I know now keeping angels with discus can be an issue, and I just got lucky. I don't have angels anymore).

One of my 20 gallon tanks can easily be turned bare bottom as it is filtered with an Aquaclear 50, and just has sand in it. It just needs a heater which is on my list to buy before I get discus.

I only have dither fish (8 smaller Cardinals, 8 Marble Hatchets, 6 Schwartzi Cories, and 3 Blue Rams), and a handfull of bristlenose plecostomus (lemon drop color) in the 75 gallon tank right now (this is the tank I eventually want the Discus to live in). The reason for the dither fish and Rams is to have something to watch while waiting for funds for the Discus which will take a couple months as I am setting $20-$50.00 per payday aside for this project.

I am just in the planning stages now, and bringing the 75 gallon tank back to life instead of just having the Plecostomus to watch.

I could put two inch discus directly into the 75 without quarantine as they would have a good size, but I was thinking that quarantine for a week would be a good idea to be sure I didn't bring any diseases into the 75 gallon tank, and to have them in a better area for localized feeding so they got used to people. The discus I used to have would come eat frozen blackworm/beefheart cubes from my hand.... and come bite the heck out of my fingers if they had eggs laid.

[Filip]

I would go with 8 x 2 inchers in one 20 gallon Bare tank for the first 2 months with daily +70 % changes and daily maintenance .After that period if all goes well they should be 3-4 inch and ready for your 75 gallon tank.
If you can't bare to watch your 75 emty for another 2-3 months untill your discus grow in the QT ,buy the diether fish and put sand , decor , plants in it too . Put 1 test discus for 2 weeks trial period In to the big tank when you are ready to transfer them and then transfer the rest if all goes well with the test discus .

[dagray]

thank you.