Discus & Goldfish

[Vinni Smith]

OK, on day four now and all is well.
Everyone is getting along like peas and carrots.

I hardly have to vacuum the tank bottom at all during WCs

I have settled into 50% each time.

Ammonia and Nitrite all testing 0

The new couple is still doing well in the QT. No eggs yet but they are just living together in bliss. No chasing or stink-eye.

[peewee1]

I noticed that too, Pat. The Discus in that video look like crap.

Carp? Or crap?

[Vinni Smith]

OK.
On day 6 now with the goldfish.
BTW, it is in the QT with the two fish that have paired up.

The tank bottom is incredibly clean!
Love that.
I still do WCs of course. 50% every other day.
Vacuumed the bottom yesterday and there was some poop, of course but not a lot.

This experiment is looking pretty good to me so far.
Not saying I recommend it.
Just trying it out for myself and learning.

I do love having the happy, go lucky gold fish in there.
Nice to look at.
The discus always seem so serious unless they are hungry.
85 degrees and the goldfish seems to be digging it.

Hope you are all having a great day.

[Iminit]

You know what missing Vinnie?? Pictures!!

[peewee1]

You know what missing Vinnie?? Pictures!!

In that photo, Vinni, try to somehow work in a clock into the photo.

[Vinni Smith]

In that photo, Vinni, try to somehow work in a clock into the photo.

You are right!

Discus with Goldfish.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Vinni, I know you are enjoying a cleaner looking tank with the goldfish. If you wish to see if the goldfish is having impact on water quality you would need to measure nitrate over time. To do this correctly you would need to measure nitrate daily for a couple days with the goldfish and without the goldfish in the tank.
Pat

[Vinni Smith]

Hi Vinni, I know you are enjoying a cleaner looking tank with the goldfish. If you wish to see if the goldfish is having impact on water quality you would need to measure nitrate over time. To do this correctly you would need to measure nitrate daily for a couple days with the goldfish and without the goldfish in the tank.
Pat

I can do that.
Would it show any difference with 50% WC every other day?

[Vinni Smith]

OK, before my WC today...

Nitrates 20
Nitrites 0
Amonia 0
PH 6.5

This Nashville water PH is a dream for keeping discus. It was TERRIBLE for live bearers!

[Second Hand Pat]

I can do that.
Would it show any difference with 50% WC every other day?

I do not know. That is the reason for the measurements. I would maintain the same WC schedule during both test periods.
Pat

[Shan_Evolved]

As soon as my tank finishes cycling I also plan on adding 1 fancy goldfish along with my new batch of discus like Vinni. But also keeping up a 50% WC and wipedown/sponge squeeze once a week. The goldfish will be going Al's QT procedure along with my discus too.

My hope is the more poop the goldfish eats, the less my discus will. Not meant to reduce WC at all

[peewee1]

As soon as my tank finishes cycling I also plan on adding 1 fancy goldfish along with my new batch of discus like Vinni. But also keeping up a 50% WC and wipedown/sponge squeeze once a week. The goldfish will be going Al's QT procedure along with my discus too.

My hope is the more poop the goldfish eats, the less my discus will. Not meant to reduce WC at all

while I like the idea of adding a gold fish except for the original basic gold fish, the one that actually looks like a fish, which is what I would add, my fear is that those types a basically baby carp. What to do with it when it gets HUUUUGEEE, as Arnold would say? I;ve go two green cory and a pleco in one of my discus tanks but they do nothing as far as I can tell.

[Vinni Smith]

while I like the idea of adding a gold fish except for the original basic gold fish, the one that actually looks like a fish, which is what I would add, my fear is that those types a basically baby carp. What to do with it when it gets HUUUUGEEE, as Arnold would say? I;ve go two green cory and a pleco in one of my discus tanks but they do nothing as far as I can tell.

That is a misconception that a lot of folks have. Goldfish are not carp. They are two totally different species.

I would only undertake this whole experiment with a fancy fantail goldfish. I could not stand to look at another type in my aquarium. Also, the fantails swim different and i think that is what the discus like. They seem to like the stupidness and carefree life the fantail goldfish lives.

[Vinni Smith]

Well, I know this is gonna make some of you cringe, but...
After about 5 days I did a 50% WC in the tank downstairs with the two big fish that paired up.
They have been doing fantastic.
I feed them 2-3 times per day.
They also have Rob the goldfish with them and a long fin albino BN pleco living with them.

Here is the shocker.
There was absolutely no vacuuming the bottom needed!
BB tank and the whole bottom looked like a mirror.

Nobody has laid eggs yet but the yellow one is still hovering by the sponge filter.
They both are getting along like peas and carrots.

It looks to me like they have grown since being in that tank.
They definitely look thicker.
The fins on the yellow one have all turned black and the fish looks incredible like that.
I am sure it would not be a show fish, but I don't care.
Looks stunning with that yellow body and black fins.

Note: those are not spots on the yellow fish. Those are bubbles or whatever in the water. That fish is CLEAN

Yello.jpgRed.jpg

[Iminit]

Rob looks like he’s growing!