What size to buy?

[gotwins86]

In the planning stages of my first discus tank. I have had planted tanks in the past and a reef tank. But never discus, something I have always wanted.

I have settled on a 125 gallon. Would like larger, but with costs, water change %, and heating I settled on 125.

Plan is for 10 discus, a school of cardinals, and about 10-12 corys. I want to have it planted as I personal think it looks better. But it will be minimun. .5 inch of PFS, some driftwood with plants on it, and maybe a couple swords and vals.

My main question is what size discus to get. I can commit to water changes, but I am looking at the cost/time commitment for different size discus.

10 x 3" Discus for around $300-$400
I would get a grow out tank. Daily water changes lots of feedings. Wondering how long until the discus reach 4" or so. Obviously more time commitment here. Would it be ok to put the discus in the main 125g at 4" or wait longer?

10 x 4" for around $600-$800
Could these go into the main 125g right away? Would save on having to do the grow out tank. What kind of water change commitment would I be looking at?

10 x 5" for $1000+++
Would love to do this option, but spending that much makes me nervous. Plan would be 50% water change, twice a week. Would that work?

So my main question is with the 4". Kind of a comprise between time and cost. Can they go in the 125 right away and what kind of water change schedule should it be?

I am looking at the Stendker Discus if that makes a difference. I have read they are a little more hardy when it comes to water and water changes.

[brewmaster15]

Welcome Zac!

Glad to hear you will try discus at last! Looks like you have done your research well to start. The larger the discus the less likely they will be problematic if they are healthy.

Would you consider holding off on any plants or substrate for about 6 months? If so... You could easily grow your 3 inch option to 4-5" in that 125 gal. I would suggest getting 12-15 if you really want a good 10-12 adults as you may lose a few along the way while you are learning.

Al

[Willie]

Discus will not grow well, if at all, in a planted tank. With fish that are less than fully grown, stunting will become readily apparent with an enlarged eye proportional to the head. But if that's a given, I suggest you go with fewer, but larger, discus. Six monsters from Hans will set off a 125 very well.

Willie

[gotwins86]

Welcome Zac!

Glad to hear you will try discus at last! Looks like you have done your research well to start. The larger the discus the less likely they will be problematic if they are healthy.

Would you consider holding off on any plants or substrate for about 6 months? If so... You could easily grow your 3 inch option to 4-5" in that 125 gal. I would suggest getting 12-15 if you really want a good 10-12 adults as you may lose a few along the way while you are learning.

Al

So about 6 months with good water changes and feeding to get from 3" to 5"? What kind of water changes would you recommend if it is just discus? I can wait on planting and sand if that is what would be best.

[gotwins86]

Discus will not grow well, if at all, in a planted tank. With fish that are less than fully grown, stunting will become readily apparent with an enlarged eye proportional to the head. But if that's a given, I suggest you go with fewer, but larger, discus. Six monsters from Hans will set off a 125 very well.

Willie

I could also go this route, the extra money might be worth skipping on the water changes and feeding of growing out small discus.

Lots to think about. Having 3 kids it might be best to go with the larger from the get go. Growing my own out does sound exciting tho... decisions decisions

[brewmaster15]

Willie makes a very good suggestion if the Adult option is affordable to you.... just realize that water changes are still part of the equation. :)

What kind of water changes will you be comfortable with doing on a consistent and realistic basis?
al

[gotwins86]

I am willing to do what is needed as far as water changes. But honestly 6 month of daily ones might wear me out. With adult discus was hoping to do 2 maybe 3 a week.

I might just go the adult route. Still lots of work and attention, but hopefully not as much.

[gotwins86]

What are thoughts on auto water changes. When I had my reef I did em and 3% daily did wonders for keeping it in check.

Wonder if I set something up with 10-20% done automatically each day. And then a once a week 50-60% with vacuuming. This would be once the discus are adults.

[Adam S]

Still won't be as good as two, 50-99% drain and fill water changes a week. Freshwater doesn't have the massive advantage of protein skimmers either.

I'd highly recommend adults in this case. If water changes are going to be "work" instead of stress relief or an enjoyable activity, you're going to get burned out quickly.

[Willie]

If water changes are going to be "work" instead of stress relief or an enjoyable activity, you're going to get burned out quickly.

Well said. Inveterate discus keepers (aka wackos) consider water change as stress relief, not as work.

Willie

[Paul Sabucchi]

If you decide to go for 3-4" fish you may take some of the onus out of water changing by keeping your 125gal bare bottom and only 1/2 or 2/3 full. Also consider making water changes as easy as possible by having some sort of semi-permanent plumbing or hose to discard the tank-water (with a pump if required) and the same from your ageing tank back to your aquarium. While the water empties you Syphon the bottom and wipe the glass, then you just turn a couple of taps and start refilling. It takes me 20 minutes to change 60 gal and very little effort.

[eugenefish]

+1. Or gym time :)

[gotwins86]

If you decide to go for 3-4" fish you may take some of the onus out of water changing by keeping your 125gal bare bottom and only 1/2 or 2/3 full. Also consider making water changes as easy as possible by having some sort of semi-permanent plumbing or hose to discard the tank-water (with a pump if required) and the same from your ageing tank back to your aquarium. While the water empties you Syphon the bottom and wipe the glass, then you just turn a couple of taps and start refilling. It takes me 20 minutes to change 60 gal and very little effort.

Right now I am leaning towards getting adults from the get go, but I had not thought about this. Using the 125 half full as a grow out tank. Hmm

And I will definitely will be taking advantage of pumps to help with the water changes.

Probably a few month out from starting to get things set up, so lots of time to research and decide.

[snxtif]

TBH, you'd find out that doing 50% wc vs 80% take more or less the same effort.
It doesn't change anything in term of, you would have to wc every day if you decided to go with 3".

Personally, I think that 2"-3" wc is like changing baby/todler's diapers.
As a parent, you have to do it no matter what (not that I'm thrill of changing my kid's diaper, but it's a peace of mind that I carry out parent's responsibility for their well being/hygiene)
But for 5"+, it's like teenager's underwear. Yeah it's gross not to change everyday, but they aren't going to die if they slept in their jeans for 3 days in a roll.

[gotwins86]

Another question off topic. I have very hard water, it has been a while since I last did measurements but GH KH and TDS were all high. Thinking GH was around 15 if that sounds right. I know TDS are around 600.

I have a RODI Filter. What should I shoot for? Can i get away with mixing RODI water and tap 50/50?

I might get a booster pump or different RODI to reduce waste water. As using 150+ gallons to do a 50 gallon water change isn't ideal.

[eugenefish]

TBH, you'd find out that doing 50% wc vs 80% take more or less the same effort.
It doesn't change anything in term of, you would have to wc every day if you decided to go with 3".

Personally, I think that 2"-3" wc is like changing baby/todler's diapers.
As a parent, you have to do it no matter what (not that I'm thrill of changing my kid's diaper, but it's a peace of mind that I carry out parent's responsibility for their well being/hygiene)
But for 5"+, it's like teenager's underwear. Yeah it's gross not to change everyday, but they aren't going to die if they slept in their jeans for 3 days in a roll.

Totally agree Cyrus. I have one growing up tank with 16 1'' discus and I do 2 x 90% WC everyday. Another grow up tank with 14 4.5" discus and I do 1 x 90% WC everyday. They are so healthy, happy and begging for food all day long. I never have to worry about they get sick. All my worries are my tanks will out of spaces for them to grow ;) ;)

I also have a teenager daughter and I know exactly what you meant ;)

[Willie]

Why do you need to reduce your TDS? If you want to invest $$, I'd strongly recommend investing it to do more frequent and larger water changes.

Willie

[gotwins86]

Why do you need to reduce your TDS? If you want to invest $$, I'd strongly recommend investing it to do more frequent and larger water changes.

Willie

I guess from what I have read discus do better in soft water. Do you think I could use straight tap water? I can look up a water report to see what is in it, but know my TDS out of the tap is around 600.

[gotwins86]

I suppose I could explain what I am kind of planning for now. After asking a few questions and getting answers.

125 Gallon tank
8 x 5"+ discus (thinking from either Kenny or Hans)
Thin layer of sand with a few plants and some driftwood. Cardinals and corys as tank mates.
55 gallon holding drum.
Setting up pumps/plumbing to kind of automate water changes.
Thinking 50-55 Gal WC done daily. With vacuuming of sand done 2-3 times per week.

Now I am looking at my water quality and trying to decide what would be best, as my water is pretty hard out of the tap.

[Willie]

Unless you're planning on breeding discus, you don't need soft water. In your situation, there wouldn't be successful spawns in a large tank with multiple fish anyway. So I would just keep it simple. Discus will grow fine in hard water, soft water, in between water, as long as they get fresh water.

Good luck, Willie

[brewmaster15]

I agree with Willie, you dont want to mess around with softening your water especially if the fish you go with are younger and domestics. If anything the minerals in your water may be beneficial to the growth of the younger fish. Give them lots of clean stable water if you want your best growth and keep it as simple as possible.


Al

[gotwins86]

Well that is great to hear. One of my bigger hesitations with WC frequency was having to soften my water and having waste water from the RODI. Was thinking a 50 Gal WC would take me 150-200 gallons to do. Feeling much better about it now.