Growing Out Juvenile Discus

HI everyone so I recently received a bunch of discus from a mail order and I've started to grow them out in a 90 gallon tank. I have 11 (3"-3.5") fish (I plan on rehoming 2 when they are adults so I can keep the 10 gallon per adult fish rule).
So my question is, am I doing things right?

I have been feeding 5 times a day with a mix of freeze dried (a few generous pinches) and frozen bloodworms (one hikarI cube defrosted).

As for water changes, I use water from the tap. My tank pH is 7.4 and my tap matches that. Temp is 84 F. Lastly the most important thing, I do daily 40% water changes, spot cleaning for poo, and I clean my canister filter and wipe down the glass once a week.

Anything I need to add to my routine?

 

Sounds good to me, I'm currently doing basically the same thing with mine in my 55 until I move them into a 125 in a few months. Personally, I like to add some variety to their diet. Freeze dried California black worms have the highest protien content of anything I've found, and I also feed frozen beefheart, frozen and freeze dried bloodworms, NLS discus pellets, beefheart pellets, brine shrimp, marineland flakes... I try to mix it up for them lol.

 

Where did this 10 gallon per fish rule come from? Is it as valid as the 1" per gallon rule? I really don't think a 10 gallon tank would be sufficient for an adult discus

I'm sorry for the question but I really want to know where these "rules" come from lol.

But to answer your question, everything you are doing is on par with discus, definitely doing a great job as it is. I personally do a 30% water change in the middle of the week and a 60% water change on the weekend and also do spot cleaning on the poo just about everyday. Filter is cleaned every time I do a water change as well, keep up the good work

 

Where did this 10 gallon per fish rule come from? Is it as valid as the 1" per gallon rule? I really don't think a 10 gallon tank would be sufficient for an adult discus

It seemed to be the most popular stocking option from my research with the minimum tank size being 55 gallons. Of course adult discus won't fit in a ten you're right

 

10gl per Discus is a guide nothing more. just like the 1inch rule.
corylover99 I would say you are on target.
if it was me I would step up the water change % to at least 60%. your already doing daily so why not add another 15 minutes or so to the job. won't really cost that much more
in your water bill (maybe a couple dollars a month)myself, I would go at least 80%. why?? in just that little step you will offer your Discus a bigger opportunity to reach their full potential.
Food wise, I would offer more freeze dried blackworms and less bloodworms. although bloodworms provide protein, the FDBW's offer more protein and more nutritional value.
a good flake like Cobalts Discus Flake would offer good nutritional value as well along with Tetra color granulars to brighten their colors.
BUT overall, I think you are doing an awesome job.

 

Do you have a strategy for getting discus to eat flakes. I've tried feeding them flakes, they don't touch it they eat it and then spit it out! Those picky buggers. I'll look into Australian freezedried black worms because they seem to be a very popular food choice! I stepped up my water changes to 70-80% I have a small simple diy tube thing that I use and it makes water changes a lot faster anyways! Thanks for the tips.

 

Do you have a strategy for getting discus to eat flakes. I've tried feeding them flakes, they don't touch it they eat it and then spit it out! Those picky buggers. I'll look into Australian freezedried black worms because they seem to be a very popular food choice! I stepped up my water changes to 70-80% I have a small simple diy tube thing that I use and it makes water changes a lot faster anyways! Thanks for the tips.

Garlic seems to work, spectrum flakes have added garlic in them already. That's how I got them to eat flakes, pellets on the other hand, I used seachem garlic to soak the pellets and they started getting hooked on them but that is just my experience, it may not work for all fish

 

I will try that! Hopefully it works!