Evaluate my phase 1 Discus plan. Please.

[Dave_Discus]

Well in order to be successful at keeping/breeding dispus, I am foregoing
my typical all in style of setting up a giant fish room and wasting thousands
of dollars.I am going to try to keep it on a smaller scale and be patient.

I am a recovering reeftank addict who went way overboard and ended up
with 15 tanks going and ended up burning out on fish for 2 years.

Current active tank is a planted 125.

Set up includes:

xp3
lots of plants
4x96watt pc daylights.
co2 set up with controller and reactor
2 300 watt heaters and cable substrate heating.
eco complete substrate

15 Cories
10 Cardinals
5 Siamese algea jerks
2 Discus...Dragon and a Snakeskin.
Some small danios.

This I guess I would call my show tank. Plans are to raise 6-10 discus
and after a pair forts move the grown out remainder to the show tank.



OK. So now I have 2 55's set up on a wrought iron stand. One on top of the other. Marineland bio-wheels on both tanks. Heaters. Bare bottom.
Plan on cycling them both with small fish running no carbon.

I want to buy 8-10 juvi Discus maybe all the same kind?
Grow them out in one of the 55's...when a pair forms..
Leave them in there, and move the rest to the show tank.

After the pair spawn...switch to sponge filters...try and raise fry
to eventually grow out in the other 55.

I have a 20 gallon quarantine tank set up now. Sponge filter will be added
from main tank when new discus are qaurantined.
I have an Ro unit and test water daily.

Sound reasonable? Missing anything?

[Squiggy]

I would recommend staying with one strain. Pick a 'true' one and buy as good and as many as affordable....One of the problems with the hobby is people mixing strains in a community tank and then getting anxious when any two pair off. If they aren't a good match, its a sensless breeding ending up with mutts for the most part...They then find their way onto the market and diminish the gene pool. At the rate this is happening, we may one day be able to buy a bag full of 'feeder' discus for a few bucks.
Properly, you would allow a pair to spawn so you can sex the fish. Then males and females are seperated and you pick the best pairings to breed...Strains should only be crossed when you are chasing geneology to fix a strain...

my humble opinions...

Joe

[Dave_Discus]

I agree on the single strain. What kind would be easier for a newb?

[Squiggy]

They all act like discus. :D

I'd imagine red turqs are the most economical way to go but, like I said, buy good ones...from reputable sources.

hth

Joe

[Dave_Discus]

I am in St. Louis area....so I was planning on driving to either
KC (KC Discus) or to Indiana (Rocky Mountain).


Doesn't have to be a $$ thing... I suppose I was wondering if there
is one that was better for starting to breed...or a color that bred truer
to it's form. Even considered wild.

Open to anyfeedback.:o

[Squiggy]

I don't want to give you the impression that wilds are difficult, but they do require a bit more than beginners knowledge. Most strains are going to be comparable with respect to breeding....Some of the newer strains pose problems with fry locating the parents and such....If money is no problem, just pick a strain you like.

:D

[Dave_Discus]

Believe it or not...I always liked Ocean greens or blue diamonds.

I am pretending I know nothing about Discus or forgetting whatever
I thought I knew intentionally this time to learn anew and actually
become a discus.....:D

[greyhoundfan]

I think Squiggy is on to something. I'm a newb too and have had my discus show tank since May. I have it stocked with Blue Pigeons, Web Leopards, and one Blue Turq. They are semi-adults at 4-5" standard length.

I also have a 40 G grow out tank stocked with 4 BDs 1 Red snake skin and 1 Red Turq.

The Red Turq is head and shoulders above all my other discus. It is growing amazingly fast and is already catching up to my semi-adult counter parts. If I had to do it over again, maybe I should have stuck to red turqs.