jefftse

Hello everyone, I'm setting up a 75g planted tank and the main fish would be discus. My plan is to set 8 discus (buying them together), 10-12 neon tetras, 3 catfish (don't' know what type of cat fish but they have black stripes and it will grow up to 3 inches, and 12 other small fish (I really don't' know the name but I was told they only will grow up to 1-2inches and I'm using them to my cycling). Do you think it is too crowded?

Can I buy different color or type of discus for breeding? or they must be identical?

planning not to buy and add the discus at least 3-4 weeks from now until the tank fully cycled.

Please advise!!

Howeyg

i think 8 discus
10 cardinal tetra (because neons cant handle the temp of a discus tank)
3 corydoras (around 3 inches each)

that should be around the right amount seeing as 1 inch to 1 gallon

8 Discus - 8 x 6 = 48"
10 Cardinal Tetra - 10 x 1.5 = 15"
3 corydoras - 3 x 3 = 9"
TOTAL = 72 inch

Howeyg

i think you can keep different colour discus in a tank

check this pic

http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/enlarge.php/7979

jefftse

I think I can keep diferent color of discus in a tank but i wonder if they would breed?

capekate

Hi Jefftse
and welcome! Your 75 gal planted tank would be great for your Discus. Don't forget to add some driftwood as well! The different colors of Discus will indeed breed, as Ive been told. Haven't had any spawining yet in my tank but cant wait! I just hear that the mix isn't a good sell, if you wanted to breed and sell them. But for your own tank.. I say go for it! I also hear that the corycats are not a good tank addition with Discus as they really do swim and dart around a lot and may stressout the Discus. Also, as Howeyg said... and I concur that the cardinal tetras are the ones that are usually in a Discus tank as they do better at the higher temps then the neon's.
Good luck with your tank and really make sure that it is completely cycled before you add the Discus as they are very sensitive to a new tank conditions...
~ kate

jefftse

Thanks!!! how about Rasbora?

capekate

Just a suggestion... you really should cycle your tank fishless. It will take a lot less time, than with fish and with a 75g tank you will be doing ALOT of water changes..
Fishless cycle took me only 24 days, when I cycled with fish it took me over two months and a lot of water changes, like every other day in order not to get the toxic levels to a point where it can kill the fish in the tank. Without the fish in the tank you will not need to do any water changes til the tank has cycled and you are ready to add fish.
I also think that you should go with the 8-10 Discus in your tank... and about 10-12 cardinal tetras and leave it at that. If you need a clean up crew you can always go with the small otocinclus fish (otos). I wouldn't add rasboras to the tank either. Just my opinion... good luck with your tank! You will love the Discus fish!

Howeyg

capekate the otos cant deal with the temperature the discus has

jefftse

thanks for your suggestion. When u said fishless cycling, which means just letting the plants in the tank and have the pump running?

only reason I said rasbora because I already bought them (they were like 5 for 6) I thought I would at least to have some cheap to cycle the tank!!!

I'm not planning to sell any fish that from the breeding but I think it is very amazing to see that happens

Howeyg

i cycled my tank fishless but i bought some artificial bacteria from LFS to put into my filter and speeds things up only took 6 or so days

jefftse

wow.. that's fast. can you send me the link?? Can I still do it right now with fish in it?

Howeyg

i dunno is was called something like umo but i just opened my filter and put it in ask in your lfs for it theyll help.. no idea if you can do it with fish in the tank i dont think so because the ammonia will go right up

COBettaCouple

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm - this helps with understanding the nitrogen cycle and cycling fishless. I'd agree on about 8-10 discus and a good cleanup crew of Corys and either Otos or Bristlenose Plecos.

jefftse

Ok, I got 3 clown loachs today and i got my plants!!! Also I bought a bottle of "cycle". I was told it can speed up the cycle progress with the fish in. In addition, I got a new light - 48" Glo with two 54w bulbs. The tank is coming together!!! it starts looking beautiful!

I have a question. The water looks a little cloudy even after 6 hours of planting. Is it normal?

Tetras and Discuses are coming soon and the tank will be done!!!!

nicole

Hi,
Dont be to concerned with colours regarding your discus,if they are going to pair up they will no matter what colour ect...just go for it...you could have bns in there to help keep tank clean...oh yeah we love pics when your tank is done.
Nicole~

jefftse

Sorry, still newbie..

what's "bns"?

nicole

I'm sorry bns are bristlenose catfish, and I was just thinking as I have done so myself buy your discus whatever ones you are attracted to if they decide to pair up thats a bonus.I was lucky enough to get 3 breeding pairs out of my community discus tank and they paired up with same colour as each other,which was lucky as this doesn't allways happen.Anyway just get what you fancy and nature will take its course.
I allways purchase more than one of any particular colour/strain.
Nicole~

jefftse

But I already have some clown loach, do you think it will be too many bottom feeders?

I'm still at least 3 weeks away getting any discus. Have you purchase any fish online? It seems like it's a lot cheaper and many more different color of discus i can choose from.

nicole

Yep its cheaper and more choice, and I purchase from another state just have to pay for freight.Just find yourself a good source to purchase from.I had 2 clown loaches and 2 bristlenoses in my 75g without any problems.

COBettaCouple

The "cycle" product isn't good to use - we found that it kept our tanks in mini-cycles and they weren't able to cycle until we stopped using it. The 2 nitirifying bacteria types that you want only have a 15-hour lifespan and cycle does have bacteria, just not the ones you need.

The cloudiness sounds like gravel dust - how much did you rinse it?

jefftse

who did you buy yours online from? I want to go to a store someone already have done business with!

I don't think it's the gravel dust and I rinsed them about 15 mins before putting them in the tank. Maybe just the new light..

jsalemi

Drs. Foster & Smith are popular, and have pretty good prices: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Shop.cfm?N=2004

Big Al's Online is another good source: http://www.bigalsonline.com/

jefftse

Yea, I bought most of my tank supplies and equipments from Al Big. They do have good price.

Drs. Foster & Smith is very expensive!!! Discus starts at $59.99!! I can buy it at LFS at that price!

jefftse

How big will BNs will grow? and how many do I need to get considering I always have 3 clown loaches.

Howeyg

4-6 inches. Females are smaller than males

jefftse

Too big.... I want something smaller since the clown loaches is going to get 3-5 inches big...

jefftse

Here are some of the pictures!!! the fish are hard to see since they are tiny!! but you will get an idea!

COBettaCouple

we only bought cycle at walmart & deathco when we first started and didn't know what it was. but now we do most of our ordering at www.drsfosterandsmith.com when we had gravel, i'd rinse it over and over and spend a good hour or 2 rinsing it and trying to get rid of the dust and still would get dust.. it never seemed to go away -- part of why we went to flat marbles.

nicole

Wow your tank looks good.

jefftse

Thank you! i'm hoping the plant will live and getting more shorter plant for the front end of this week and probably the tetras!!!