Originally Posted by
Second Hand Pat
This questionnaire may be used to either help you to describe your new tank setup for discus or
be a “food for thought” checklist while you consider what your goals are with your new discus tank setup.
1) Please Introduce your self and tell us what your experience is with fishkeeping, give us as much information as possible as to how long in the hobby, what you have kept in the past and what you currently are working with.
Hi, my name is Trey and have limited fish keeping experience. I have had my current 55 gallon with 4 discus 15 cardinal tetras and 2 bristle nose for 3 months.
2) If you have no previous experience with keeping discus, have you done any research to properly prepare yourself, e.g. have you read any Stickies in this section of SimplyDiscus, or other material?
very limited experience, i do research daily, but gets confusing. the methods used by others vary greatly, rather it be water changes, feeding, temp, etc.
3) Describe your tank, its size and dimensions, breeding or display. Include how long it has been setup or if it is still being cycled.
i am upgrading. i currently have a 125 (6ft x 23" x 18") gallon display tank that is currently being cycled without fish
4) Describe the décor for the tank; type of substrate or bare bottom (BB), whether the tank will be planted or a biotope.
i have put approx. 2" of fluval substrate covered with 2" of sand, have 5 amazon swords, 3 java ferns, 3 hornwort, 5 chain swords and 4 four leaf clovers, 3 pieces of 12" saba driftwood, minimal slate stone (about seven 4"), and 2 8" ceramic hollow logs for places
5) Describe your water changes planned or practiced, percentage and how often. Include if you age your water and use of tap/RO or mix.
i use tap water(treated with stability and prime) plan on 10 to 20 % water changes weekly
6) Describe the type of filtration planned/used for the tank; sponge, HOB and/or sump. Also include the other equipment you are, or will be, using in your tank, e.g. heater, lighting, etc.
have 2 fx6 canister filters, 1 tetra 150 whisper with 2 stones, 2 300w eheim heaters with a ink bird controller, and have 2 48 " fluval plant 3.0
7) If the tank is already setup and running, include the water parameters;
- temp __84.3___
- tank ph ___cycling__
- Ph of the water straight out of your tap ___not sure__
- ammonia reading __cycling__
- nitrite reading ___cycling_
- nitrate reading ___cycling_
- well water ___no_
- municipal water ___yes_
8) Describe your current or planned stocking levels; number/size of discus and number/type of dither fish. Where did you get your discus from or do you have a proposed source for getting your discus?
This is what i want and need to know if it can be done, or is it too risky. I would prefer the tank not to need extensive care/maintenance. i want to enjoy the fish, not stress over them. Please let me know your thoughts.
10 4"-5" discus
30-45 cardinal tetras
12 sterbai corys
2 4" golden nugget places
i currently have 4 of the discus, 2 albino BN plecos, and 5 kuhli loaches that i plan to transfer to the new tank
9) Describe your planned or existing feeding regimen. Include what and how often you are feeding on a daily basis.
Another area i need help with, i currently feed the discus pellets in the AM and frozen brine shrimp and blood worms in the PM. I feed the tetras flakes in the PM and the pe
plecos wafers every other day.
i plan to feed the corys with vibra bites, the tetras with micro pellets and the plecos with algae wafers. The discus i want to explore feeding options, will they eat the vibra bites, should i try pellets, freeze dried, or continue with the frozen?
10) What are your goals in this hobby? For example are you looking to keep discus in a planted community tank, or do you hope to become a hobby breeder of Discus? Do you want to raise Discus with the hopes of competing in shows?