Hello all,
I am currently planning a 46-48gallon bow front discus tank and have a good amount of questions. I've been doing my reading on just some simple beginners guide to keeping discus. I've read and found that Red Turquoise Discus seem to be the best discus to keep for beginners due to their heartyness (True? / False?). My plan is to keep 3-4 Discus in a 46-48gal tank with a possibilty of A school of cardinal tetra's or apisto's. Not sure if this would be considered overstock?
Filtration:
1 XP2 w/ spraybar and 1 AquaClear 50. This is more then enough filtration and would be turning over 300gph. I am not a fan of carbon because I sometimes tend to forget to change the carbon out so I would keep no carbon in any of these filters.
Heater(s):
2 Jager 75 watt heaters located on both ends of the tank to keep a solid temprature. I've read the discus are kept between tempratures of 82-88 degrees?
Lighting:
Since I will be keeping plants that are attached to driftwood (IE Java Fern and Fissidens Fontanus) I was going to use Coralife Freshwater Dual Compact Flourescent 6700K bulbs. Max watts 192. Would this be okay to use in a discus tank?
Decor / Plants:
I have lots of driftwood already soaking in a 100gallon rubbermaid which will probably be way too much for the tank. I'll be attaching Java Fern, and Fissidens Fontanus that I have growing in another tank. I will probably be putting about 60lbs of driftwood in the tank. Along with 30lbs of rounded river rock. I'll be also be putting in 2 36" fancy plant bamboo style plants on each end sides of the tank for some shade and cover. I'll be making small uinder caves with the driftwood for possible hiding spots.
Substrate:
I've always been real hesitant with having sand has a substrate. But has a hobbyist I love to simulate natural enviroment to an extent. Since discus never really a bottom dwelling fish more of medium column to upper dwelling would sand matter? I was thinking more on the gravel side. The gravel I was thinking about is about .5 in with some thicker based rock and more rounded. I think it would really set off the driftwood and river rock. Plus its on the dark brown side with some tan rock and maroon rock.
Water Parameters (pH/GH):
Here's the part the really concerns me and has turned me away from keeping Discus. My tap water's pH is always between 7.5-8.0 and stay's buffered at about between those levels. Now I've read that discus should be kept at 6.5-7.2 pH. I don't tend to breed discus so I am thinking thos pH numbers should be ideal? Now my pH on my tap is way to high for a discus tank. Now if I use "Seachem's Discus Buffer" which buffs the water to 5.0-6.0 and then add some baking soda to this my pH should buff out pretty nicely between 6.5 and neutral? This is the only matter that has been stoping me from having my discus tank. I've heard of using RO/DI water but never really read on how and what I need to do so. If anyone has some good articles on this I can read please post it.
I think thats about it, if you know of anything I missed please let me know. Thank you for reading!
J
I am currently planning a 46-48gallon bow front discus tank and have a good amount of questions. I've been doing my reading on just some simple beginners guide to keeping discus. I've read and found that Red Turquoise Discus seem to be the best discus to keep for beginners due to their heartyness (True? / False?). My plan is to keep 3-4 Discus in a 46-48gal tank with a possibilty of A school of cardinal tetra's or apisto's. Not sure if this would be considered overstock?
Filtration:
1 XP2 w/ spraybar and 1 AquaClear 50. This is more then enough filtration and would be turning over 300gph. I am not a fan of carbon because I sometimes tend to forget to change the carbon out so I would keep no carbon in any of these filters.
Heater(s):
2 Jager 75 watt heaters located on both ends of the tank to keep a solid temprature. I've read the discus are kept between tempratures of 82-88 degrees?
Lighting:
Since I will be keeping plants that are attached to driftwood (IE Java Fern and Fissidens Fontanus) I was going to use Coralife Freshwater Dual Compact Flourescent 6700K bulbs. Max watts 192. Would this be okay to use in a discus tank?
Decor / Plants:
I have lots of driftwood already soaking in a 100gallon rubbermaid which will probably be way too much for the tank. I'll be attaching Java Fern, and Fissidens Fontanus that I have growing in another tank. I will probably be putting about 60lbs of driftwood in the tank. Along with 30lbs of rounded river rock. I'll be also be putting in 2 36" fancy plant bamboo style plants on each end sides of the tank for some shade and cover. I'll be making small uinder caves with the driftwood for possible hiding spots.
Substrate:
I've always been real hesitant with having sand has a substrate. But has a hobbyist I love to simulate natural enviroment to an extent. Since discus never really a bottom dwelling fish more of medium column to upper dwelling would sand matter? I was thinking more on the gravel side. The gravel I was thinking about is about .5 in with some thicker based rock and more rounded. I think it would really set off the driftwood and river rock. Plus its on the dark brown side with some tan rock and maroon rock.
Water Parameters (pH/GH):
Here's the part the really concerns me and has turned me away from keeping Discus. My tap water's pH is always between 7.5-8.0 and stay's buffered at about between those levels. Now I've read that discus should be kept at 6.5-7.2 pH. I don't tend to breed discus so I am thinking thos pH numbers should be ideal? Now my pH on my tap is way to high for a discus tank. Now if I use "Seachem's Discus Buffer" which buffs the water to 5.0-6.0 and then add some baking soda to this my pH should buff out pretty nicely between 6.5 and neutral? This is the only matter that has been stoping me from having my discus tank. I've heard of using RO/DI water but never really read on how and what I need to do so. If anyone has some good articles on this I can read please post it.
I think thats about it, if you know of anything I missed please let me know. Thank you for reading!
J