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metfan581
10-29-2006, 02:20 PM
I have a 55....

5 discus 3"-5"
4 khuli loaches
and 1 clown loach


could i get anymore discus?

thanks,
metfan581
Bainbridge Mike
10-29-2006, 04:04 PM
Is your tank Bare bottom? (I'm guessing not because of the loaches). What kind of substrate do you have-- a Thin layer of sand or regular gravel? How often do you change water and how much? what kind of filtration are you using? Depending on your answers to the questions above, you may have room for another fish or two.

Good luck,
Mike
metfan581
10-29-2006, 04:29 PM
a think layer of small gravel

about 2 75% wc a week

1 penguin 330


thanks,
metfan581
ShinShin
10-29-2006, 06:28 PM
No.

Mat
Bainbridge Mike
10-30-2006, 12:09 AM
Sorry Metfan:

I have to agree with Mat. Based on what you got, your tank is full.

Mike
Greg Richardson
10-30-2006, 01:24 AM
If you up your wc schedule, keep up daily cleaning of gravel, there is no reason why you can't get two more. It's all about water quality.
ShinShin
10-30-2006, 02:33 AM
Besides upping the water changes to 75% daily, the gravel would have to go as well to insure all detritus is removed daily. Chances are that the 55gal is not a true 55, but a 50, as most are these days. This means maybe 7 gals. per discus when the actual volume is determined. The other fish ought to go as well to decrease the total bioload of the tank. One would have to be diligant at water changes and other tank maintainance to keep that number of discus alive and well, emphasizing "and well".

I have kept as many as 12 adults in a true 55gal for over a year doing 90% daily wc's. I developed pneumonia and was too sick to maintain the regime, and the discus did not do well at all for that two week period, and it took alot to get them back to their prime condition. I see no sense in overstocking a tank just to have more discus. No matter how good one's intentions are at wc's are in the beginning, life happens and wc's get sacrificed, then the discus are sick, and then we are answering questions in the disease section.

That's been my experience, anyway.

Mat
Bainbridge Mike
10-30-2006, 02:39 AM
Hey Met Fan:

If you get rid of the gravel and the loaches, and up your water changes to every day, you could add a couple more discus. Otherwise, I would err on the side of caution. Good luck,
Mike
metfan581
10-30-2006, 03:17 PM
thanks all for your help