ADVICE

[discus2010]

hello everyone,
I am about to buy a new 55 g tank only for discus. I need advice for starting I want to have it as a show tank, but am considering growing out the young discus in a bare bottom then add decorations,gravel, ect. I also hope on having apair of the discus breed. What do you think are the best decisions i could make? I am considering buying 5-7 discus (2 in) from Great lakes discus.Then moving the pair into a 29 and leaving 4-3 in the show tank decorating it and adding some neons. what should i use for filtration i am thinking of using
Hagen Aqua Clear 500, but am not sure if it is the best choice
And what catfish should i use?

[Willie]

The choice you make depends on your objective and your priorities. There's no best approach to meet everything you described.

1. If you want discus in a planted tank, buy some adults -- they'll look beautiful.
2. If you want to save money by buying juveniles and growing them up, then put them in a barebottom tank.
3. If you want to get a pair out of the juveniles, see #2 but buy at least six from a single source.

Willie

[Carol_Roberts]

Have you read through the stickied threads in the beginner section?
55 gallon, Aqua Clear 110 (or airdriven sponge filters), 300 watt heater (or 2 100-150 watt heaters) 6-8 juveniles, barebottom. Move pair to 29 at maturity.

[RyanH]

I would also avoid neons and go with Cardinal Tetras. They can handle the heat that Discus require.

[discus2010]

yes i did read the begginer section. I just wanted to make the 55 into a showtank after i raised them and didnt know if it would be better to plant the tank after i had a pair off or to d o it before. i also heard that some fish can become really shy unless they HAVE hiding places but i dont want them to hide if they are adults because they would just get new hiding spots.

[discus2010]

New question?
Do i have to quarintine my fish when i get them even though there will be no other fish in the tank to be diseased and all the fish are coming from the same person(great lakes discus, Cary?)?

[Carol_Roberts]

Give them a place to hide and they will ;)

If all the fish going in the tank are from the same seller at the same time then that tank IS the quarantine tank.

[AADiscus]

I would diffently quartine any new fish you are putting into a tank. However, like Carol said.........if they are the only fish then it is a quartine tank.

Cary is a really good breeder but you still want to quartine any new fish you get before you mix them with ones you already have. (for future ;) )

Good luck and let us know when you are getting them and which breed(s)!!!

[discus2010]

Well I have already decided on what breeds i am getting, i have also decided where i am getting them. I am getting 10 (2 in.) from cary of Great Lake discus:
2 Blue Snake Skin http://greatlakesdiscus.com/aaa29.jpg

2 Blue Turquoises http://greatlakesdiscus.com/blueheavenlarge.jpg

2 Scribbled Red http://greatlakesdiscus.com/ogientalredlarge.jpg

2 Pigeon Blood Snakeskin http://greatlakesdiscus.com/snakeskinpigeonbloodlarge.jpg

1 Tangerine http://greatlakesdiscus.com/tangerineslarge.jpg

1 Violet reflection http://greatlakesdiscus.com/aaa9.jpg
;)

[discus2010]

As for the second part of the question when i am getting them will be awhile, since i am only 13 and saving money by babysitting I am a little short on cash, so i am only currently capable of buying the tank itself.
:mad:

[cobaltblue]

those are beautiful fish you chose discus 2010. Pretty cool you are wanting to try discus at only 13. I was still finding guppies a challenge way back then. Good luck with your tank!!:D

[discus2010]

Yea i master guppies at 11, then i went malawi cichlids and did that well and then I was given a new tank and then I researched discus. Then i went to my lfs and they had happened to have a 50% storwide sale and i bought 2 2in and put them into my planted 20 and theylivedtogethor for a month and then my smaller one dies unfourtunatly. My other one is still alive and has been in thhe tanks eating flake food for three months now.:balloon: