Growout tank question...

[sam86]

I currently have 6 discus in a 120, ranging from about 3" to 4". It's started to be too much work doing daily 50% water changes on the 120, so i'm looking for a smaller tank to grow them out in.

Will a 40 gallon tank suffice for 6 discus? I'm afraid to go with anything smaller, as I dont want to risk stunting their growth.

[Poco]

60/65g will do nicely.

[sam86]

So, a 40 is out of the question, even if it's not their permanent home?

[camuth8]

Pretty much. The main rule is 10g per discus or something around that. A 55 would work as well.

[Oscarsx]

Pretty much. The main rule is 10g per discus or something around that. A 55 would work as well.

I believe that's for adult discus, correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm the process of growing discus myself, I have 6 in a 20gal..All range from 1.5-2 inches now. Once they hit 3-3.5 ill be moving them to my 60g.

I believe if you keep up with daily wcs maybe up to 70 percent or more, you should have no problems..

- oz

[sam86]

Thanks, guys!

[Skip]

40 is just fine..

i have my contest fish.. 8 in a 15g and 20+ in 20g.. as my grow out tanks..

they become stunted due to bad diet and lack of water changes..

remember.. CLEAR water.. is not always CLEAN water

[Oscarsx]

40 is just fine..

i have my contest fish.. 8 in a 15g and 20+ in 20g.. as my grow out tanks..

they become stunted due to bad diet and lack of water changes..

remember.. CLEAR water.. is not always CLEAN water

Those 20+ in your 20gal, how big are they and when do you plan on moving them? Just curious. Just to get an idea on when I need to upgrade.

- oz

[DiscusDrew]

40 gallons, works great, I feel like sometimes people are taking things they have HEARD and not things they have DONE and repeating them as truths. I would NEVER put 6 discus in a tank that large (60-65 gallons) that is way too big. In fact until they are 6-7", and even then, they dont get anywhere near 10 gallons a fish. What is critical is that the stocking level matches your water change schedule.

[Skip]

Those 20+ in your 20gal, how big are they and when do you plan on moving them? Just curious. Just to get an idea on when I need to upgrade.

- oz

i don't know... they are still under 2 inches.. i think.. i haven't put ruler to them in a couple of weeks.. maybe when 2" plus.. and if and when i do.. i am dumping them all into a 40breeder..

[Poco]

I would NEVER put 6 discus in a tank that large (60-65 gallons) that is way too big.

Drew, out of curiosity why wouldn't you put 6 4inch discus in a 60g tank?

[DiscusDrew]

Drew, out of curiosity why wouldn't you put 6 4inch discus in a 60g tank?
If I had to, maybe, but it would be absolutely temporary, long term I find the fish in that small of numbers do not eat, act, or maintain health well. Too much space for too little fish, but thats just how I run my fish room/hatchery. I realize numbers of 6 or more is what most seem to recommend and about 10 gal per fish, my issue being the fish's overall well being seems to be up to snuff when the stocking level is that low. More aggressive feeding habits, less skiddishness, better health, seems to be the result of more aggressive stocking levels. However the feeding and water change schedule needs to coincide with this decision. Im not saying it isnt an OK scenario to have 6 4" fish in a 60 gallon tank, Im simply saying it is less than ideal.

For instance, My competition fish, 37 gallons of water, 7 fish now all around 3". I consider that to be too much water for them, I would be achieving better growth from those fish if stocking levels were higher. I will show this through the videos Im making now of how I normally stock and maintain my fish. Large numbers also disperse aggression to an almost non-existent level and gets rid of the classic "runt" syndrom we see all too often in one or two fish in the classic 55 gallon tank with 6 mid sized discus in it.

JME