55 gallon tank w/ Discus - Aquarium Advice

moneymike0311 · 08-28-2006, 02:52 PM

So I've been reading up about starting a discus tank (my 3rd tank in all) and have seen the suggestion to get a group of 4-6. I've also seen people set the standard of 1 discus/7-10 gallons. With my 55 gallon tank I don't want to have to sell fish back because they're too crowded so I'm thinking 4 will be and optimal number, am I right?

I don't plan on putting other fish in there except for a few Cory's maybe.

hc8719 · 08-28-2006, 05:47 PM

3 would be good just to be safe, especially if they are, or when they get huge

Thebluyak · 08-29-2006, 12:10 AM

its not good to keep them in such small numbers HC if IIR. I was going to get a discus tank in my 55 and i was going to put 5 in there. the main point is perfection. The water needs to be clean and changed very often for them to grow to full size quickly. Also start out with a bare bottem tank if they are juvis before you try your hand at a planted tank. It will just make it easier to keep clean. Make sure you have good heaters cause they like it hotter than normal fish and remember, buying ugly baby discus will just make big ugly discus. Be nit picky on the fish when you are buying them. Try to avoid peppering and shrunken in faces as these are poor quality. If they extremely colorful at a young age maybe steroids have been used so do your research, good luck!

BrianNY · 08-29-2006, 04:47 AM

Thebluyak has some excellent advice. Discus, especially when young, like to shoal. They will also establish a pecking order. IME when only 3 or 4 discus are kept together, one is picked on without mercy. A good number seems to be at least 5.

If you're starting with juvis a smaller tank (like a 29g), is actually better. Not only does it make the pwcs easier, the discus have an easier time finding each other as well as food. When they reach a size between 3 and 4 inches, I transfer to larger tanks.

Thebluyak · 08-30-2006, 12:02 AM

Thanks Brian, I did about a month of research before I was ready to get my discus. Right when I was about to get them my apartment people said my tank was to big, owell now i know almost everything about discus. its come in handy alot of people have been asking about them lately

08-28-2006, 02:52 PM	#1
moneymike0311 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 10	55 gallon tank w/ Discus So I've been reading up about starting a discus tank (my 3rd tank in all) and have seen the suggestion to get a group of 4-6. I've also seen people set the standard of 1 discus/7-10 gallons. With my 55 gallon tank I don't want to have to sell fish back because they're too crowded so I'm thinking 4 will be and optimal number, am I right? I don't plan on putting other fish in there except for a few Cory's maybe.

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08-28-2006, 05:47 PM	#2
hc8719 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 1,932	3 would be good just to be safe, especially if they are, or when they get huge

08-29-2006, 12:10 AM	#3
Thebluyak Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: where the wild things are (NC) Posts: 378	its not good to keep them in such small numbers HC if IIR. I was going to get a discus tank in my 55 and i was going to put 5 in there. the main point is perfection. The water needs to be clean and changed very often for them to grow to full size quickly. Also start out with a bare bottem tank if they are juvis before you try your hand at a planted tank. It will just make it easier to keep clean. Make sure you have good heaters cause they like it hotter than normal fish and remember, buying ugly baby discus will just make big ugly discus. Be nit picky on the fish when you are buying them. Try to avoid peppering and shrunken in faces as these are poor quality. If they extremely colorful at a young age maybe steroids have been used so do your research, good luck!

08-29-2006, 04:47 AM	#4
BrianNY Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 4,259 Images: 18	Thebluyak has some excellent advice. Discus, especially when young, like to shoal. They will also establish a pecking order. IME when only 3 or 4 discus are kept together, one is picked on without mercy. A good number seems to be at least 5. If you're starting with juvis a smaller tank (like a 29g), is actually better. Not only does it make the pwcs easier, the discus have an easier time finding each other as well as food. When they reach a size between 3 and 4 inches, I transfer to larger tanks.

08-30-2006, 12:02 AM	#5
Thebluyak Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: where the wild things are (NC) Posts: 378	Thanks Brian, I did about a month of research before I was ready to get my discus. Right when I was about to get them my apartment people said my tank was to big, owell now i know almost everything about discus. its come in handy alot of people have been asking about them lately