How many different tetras with discus fish in large aquarium

[brewmaster15]

My discus like emperor tetras, cardinals and neons - in that order. Rummynose tetras get too big to eat but they can't handle big water changes. If you want dithers that last, go with black skirt tetras, which are tough as dirt.

Willie I thought you were a rummy nose fan for discus?

[Iminit]

My rummies do fine with water changes. 2 50% a week. Never lost one.

[Willie]

I do 100% water changes and manage to lose at least 1 with every change.

A major problem with rummynose is that the red is dependent on the background color, i.e. lots of plants. In a hardscape, the red color fades despite having very healthy fish.

[jwcarlson]

I agree with Willie, my rummys did not like big water changes. They did not seem to die because of it, but clearly stressed them out badly.

[brewmaster15]

I agree with Willie, my rummys did not like big water changes. They did not seem to die because of it, but clearly stressed them out badly.

Thats interesting that both you and Willie noted that with them. I wonder what the reason is . I never had them in tanks I did big water changes in as they were in my living tanks...those only got 30% water changes using unaged water. I can't do more than that in these tanks or I will stress /lose discus. Aging barrels are all in the basement. Never noted an issue there.

[jwcarlson]

I was doing 90% changes with mine, Al. Aged water exact temp matched, using Prime.
I don't know what it was, but they certainly didn't like it. I finally took the last two stragglers and put them in a community planted tank and they've been happy as clams since. They're also a lot more colorful in the darker/planted tank as well.

[brewmaster15]

I was doing 90% changes with mine, Al. Aged water exact temp matched, using Prime.
I don't know what it was, but they certainly didn't like it. I finally took the last two stragglers and put them in a community planted tank and they've been happy as clams since. They're also a lot more colorful in the darker/planted tank as well.

It might just come down to a strong flight response.. Disturb the environment and they feel threatened and stressed in that big open tank.

al

[jwcarlson]

It might just come down to a strong flight response.. Disturb the environment and they feel threatened and stressed in that big open tank.

al

They are absolutely a panicky mess. The first one I lost was netting them out of a tank. It wasn't even particularly stressful. Must have had a heart attack. Another one buried itself in the gravel substrate under wood of the same tank and I didn't find it for quite awhile (but it was alive). Granted, netting isn't something that happens a lot. But it seemed a little bit excessive. It's a shame, really, they're the best schooling fish I have ever had and what I really liked was that my sterbai would sometimes school with them for a bit and I think that was really cool. I will be really tempted to get another school once I get my discus in their 125. I think a school of them in a 6' tank would be very cool... and couple that with sterbai and I'm ready to have my heart broken again.

[bluelagoon]

I like the look of Rummynose with discus in a big tank. I have had them and agree they go well with Discus.

al

I have had rummy nose as well with discus. They go well with discus.

[jpm995]

My rummies do fine with water changes. 2 50% a week. Never lost one.

I wonder if diet affects this as well? Edit to add i was responding to Willie's post of them losing their colors.

[bluelagoon]

In a large 6-foot aquarium with discus, creating a visually appealing tetra school can include around 15-20 of each species like cardinal, lemon, glowlight, black phantom, harlequin, and Costa tetras. This ensures a vibrant, diverse display while maintaining space and harmony.

Personally, I think that 120 tetras is way too many. It's all a personal choice of course but to me a mix is just more confusing and less harmony for the fish being that they can communicate with there own species. Fish do make sounds that human ears won't pick up. Where's the room for the discus? I had a 6 foot and all those tetras; the tank would be over stocked and more difficult to maintain.

[jpm995]

Agree i had assumed he meant 15 of only one of those species. Thats a lot of fish.

[Iminit]

I find most tetras after being in the tank for a month or so stop schooling and can be found swimming all over the tank and rarely schooling. Kind of figured they felt safe and no need to school. But rummies they never stop schooling. They are always together. May be that they are just very nervous fish.E4D3B361-A888-41F7-A118-23F8B1CC2B38.jpg. That’s my crew during a water change. Blacks phantom joins them.