Should I get Discus?
Should I get Discus?
So I've been weighing the pros and cons of discus for a while now, and I'm seriously considering taking the plunge. Now that I have some extra funds, I'd love to dive into discus. My 75-gallon tank is currently home to a Rio Nanay Scalare and a Green Severum - I know the severum probably won't be a good fit, but let's say I get 4-5 discus and just keep my angel, which is almost fully grown. I've got a Sunsun canister on the tank, and I'm doing 50-75% water changes weekly, but I can up that to 2-3 times a week if needed. I've found a reputable seller, Monster Aquarium Inc, that sells 4-inch discus - I've bought from them before, and I'm happy with my angelfish. Should I be looking elsewhere? For now, I'm planning to keep the tank pretty simple, just the discus and my angel, until I get more comfortable with them. I'm also thinking of adding a Universal Rocks "Deep Water" background and sticking with my sand substrate - I know BB would be better, but I'm not sure I can make the switch.
Re: Should I get Discus?
I've been thinking, why not go for 6 discus and keep your angel in the mix. You've got a solid setup with that 75-gallon tank, and I think it could work out well. Just make sure you keep up with those water changes, 2-3 times a week, and keep a close eye on your water parameters, at least initially. And most importantly, watch your fish - they'll be the ones telling you if they're comfortable or not. Just stay on top of things and you should be fine.
Re: Should I get Discus?
Re: Should I get Discus?
You're on the right track, taking your time and considering the details. It's refreshing to see that. Substrate can be a challenge, but if you're up for it, it's definitely doable. Just remember, clean water and regular maintenance will be your best friends in keeping the bio load under control. For a tank like yours, I'd recommend sticking with at least 4" discus. It's a good starting point. Keep asking questions, and don't hesitate to seek advice – it's all part of the learning process.
You're on the right track, taking your time and considering the details. It's refreshing to see that. Substrate can be a challenge, but if you're up for it, it's definitely doable. Just remember, clean water and regular maintenance will be your best friends in keeping the bio load under control. For a tank like yours, I'd recommend sticking with at least 4" discus. It's a good starting point. Keep asking questions, and don't hesitate to seek advice – it's all part of the learning process.
Re: Should I get Discus?
Re: Should I get Discus?
Good to see you're back. I'd advise holding off on the background and the severum for now. If you're looking for places to buy discus on the island, I've got a couple of recommendations. Winnie's discus is a great option - they specialize in breeding and selling discus from reputable sellers. Another one to consider is Hans discus, they're also well-known for their discus.
Good to see you're back. I'd advise holding off on the background and the severum for now. If you're looking for places to buy discus on the island, I've got a couple of recommendations. Winnie's discus is a great option - they specialize in breeding and selling discus from reputable sellers. Another one to consider is Hans discus, they're also well-known for their discus.
Re: Should I get Discus?
Re: Should I get Discus?
Sorry for the lengthy response, I've been out of the loop for a while. Pandemic caught up with me, and my tank was stagnant - no new additions, no losses except for the last silvertip. Manzanita branches shrunk and started breaking off. I've been eyeing Monster Aquarium Inc for my discus, they seem reputable and offer a variety of strains at good prices.
I'm not after show-quality or massive discus, just healthy ones that'll look good. I don't see why I should wait on the background, it's not a priority. My budget for each discus is around 60-80 USD, and I want them as big as possible. Should I buy them all at once or space it out? I don't want to overload the system. I'm aiming for a relatively low stock to keep maintenance manageable.
I want the least amount of discus possible to avoid water quality pressure. Is 4 too few? 5 is the bare minimum, right? 6 would be ideal, but I already have the angel. By the way, my Rio Nanay angel is amazing - curved snout, spotted, and red coloration on the fins. Got it from Monster Aquarium Inc, and it's been the best investment. If I couldn't get discus, I'd definitely go for more angels or Manacapurus.
Sorry for the lengthy response, I've been out of the loop for a while. Pandemic caught up with me, and my tank was stagnant - no new additions, no losses except for the last silvertip. Manzanita branches shrunk and started breaking off. I've been eyeing Monster Aquarium Inc for my discus, they seem reputable and offer a variety of strains at good prices.
I'm not after show-quality or massive discus, just healthy ones that'll look good. I don't see why I should wait on the background, it's not a priority. My budget for each discus is around 60-80 USD, and I want them as big as possible. Should I buy them all at once or space it out? I don't want to overload the system. I'm aiming for a relatively low stock to keep maintenance manageable.
I want the least amount of discus possible to avoid water quality pressure. Is 4 too few? 5 is the bare minimum, right? 6 would be ideal, but I already have the angel. By the way, my Rio Nanay angel is amazing - curved snout, spotted, and red coloration on the fins. Got it from Monster Aquarium Inc, and it's been the best investment. If I couldn't get discus, I'd definitely go for more angels or Manacapurus.
Re: Should I get Discus?
Re: Should I get Discus?
Also, I'm having an algae issue, even with my lights off - they're broken and I haven't replaced them yet - and I'm only feeding twice a day. I'm thinking of getting an algae cleaner for when I get the discus and keep my angel. Should I bother, and if so, which ones are good?
Also, I'm having an algae issue, even with my lights off - they're broken and I haven't replaced them yet - and I'm only feeding twice a day. I'm thinking of getting an algae cleaner for when I get the discus and keep my angel. Should I bother, and if so, which ones are good?
Re: Should I get Discus?
For algae, get the 24w green killing machine. Look online for the best price. I've been to Monster Aquarium before, it's a nice store, but it's still a pet store. If you want healthy discus, I'd recommend buying from one of the sponsors here. Check out the new thread from Forrest discus or Pingo discus. Yes, you'll pay for shipping, but you'll get much stronger fish. I recommended Winnies because they're close to you and you can make an appointment to see and pick what you want. Just keep in mind that their discus might be on the larger side, I'm not sure if they sell 4" discus. Hans is another great option, his discus are perfect for beginners. I've bought 14 from him and only lost one.
As for buying discus one at a time, it's not the best idea. There's a risk of cross-contamination when buying from a place like Monster that gets their discus from wholesalers. Plus, you don't know what kind of water they're using. Is it tap water or RO water? Our tap water is great for discus, but you never know what they're using.
Remember, both discus and angels are cichlids, and they can be territorial and aggressive. Since your angel has been in the tank for a while, it's probably considered the tank its own. If it is aggressive to the discus, having more discus can help spread out the aggression.
You'll need to do regular water changes, no matter what. I know some people say you don't need to, but they're not around for long. For the first month, do 50% water changes every day for the best results. Then you can slow it down to every other day, then every two days, and eventually, you can get to 2 times a week.
As for the background, it's nice looking, but it's not the best idea. Waste and debris can build up between the stones and cause water issues. There are many other backgrounds with designs that just get taped to the outside of the tank. For discus, you want the easiest to clean water.
As for buying discus one at a time, it's not the best idea. There's a risk of cross-contamination when buying from a place like Monster that gets their discus from wholesalers. Plus, you don't know what kind of water they're using. Is it tap water or RO water? Our tap water is great for discus, but you never know what they're using.
Remember, both discus and angels are cichlids, and they can be territorial and aggressive. Since your angel has been in the tank for a while, it's probably considered the tank its own. If it is aggressive to the discus, having more discus can help spread out the aggression.
You'll need to do regular water changes, no matter what. I know some people say you don't need to, but they're not around for long. For the first month, do 50% water changes every day for the best results. Then you can slow it down to every other day, then every two days, and eventually, you can get to 2 times a week.
As for the background, it's nice looking, but it's not the best idea. Waste and debris can build up between the stones and cause water issues. There are many other backgrounds with designs that just get taped to the outside of the tank. For discus, you want the easiest to clean water.
Re: Should I get Discus?
Re: Should I get Discus?
Thanks for the insight on the background, I think I'll hold off on that for now. I plan to do as many water changes as possible, likely 2-3 times a week at 50%. I'm hoping the angelfish won't be too aggressive towards the discus, and I'll make sure to add some scaping to break the line of sight and reduce any potential aggression. Maybe I'll even feed them in different areas during mealtime. Currently, the severum is the dominant one in the tank, but I'm worried it might take over if I remove it.
I'd like to buy as many discus as possible at once, but if I go with Hans or Discus Madness, I'd have to settle for smaller ones if I want all six at the same time. I'm leaning towards Hans, though. Winnie's discus has 4-5 inch discus available, but only certain strains and they're all out of stock. I'm looking to buy as many as possible, as big as possible, for as little as possible.
What's the real difference between 3 inch and 4 inch discus? I know bigger is better, and I don't want to stunt their growth. If I were to raise six in that tank, how should I go about it? Should I avoid buying from Monster Aquarium Inc? I can get all six at decent sizes from them, which is tempting.
Also, my canister filter has a built-in UV - should I use both?
Thanks for the insight on the background, I think I'll hold off on that for now. I plan to do as many water changes as possible, likely 2-3 times a week at 50%. I'm hoping the angelfish won't be too aggressive towards the discus, and I'll make sure to add some scaping to break the line of sight and reduce any potential aggression. Maybe I'll even feed them in different areas during mealtime. Currently, the severum is the dominant one in the tank, but I'm worried it might take over if I remove it.
I'd like to buy as many discus as possible at once, but if I go with Hans or Discus Madness, I'd have to settle for smaller ones if I want all six at the same time. I'm leaning towards Hans, though. Winnie's discus has 4-5 inch discus available, but only certain strains and they're all out of stock. I'm looking to buy as many as possible, as big as possible, for as little as possible.
What's the real difference between 3 inch and 4 inch discus? I know bigger is better, and I don't want to stunt their growth. If I were to raise six in that tank, how should I go about it? Should I avoid buying from Monster Aquarium Inc? I can get all six at decent sizes from them, which is tempting.
Also, my canister filter has a built-in UV - should I use both?
Re: Should I get Discus?
Re: Should I get Discus?
Take a look at this - http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showth...ent-Price-list. Forrest is top-notch. Pingo's now selling their discus and I think he's gonna do great. Seen his fish, read reviews, people love 'em. This new listing has some beautiful discus in the 3.5 - 4.5” range. I've got 4 of Forrest's discus, bought at those sizes, and they've grown out nicely. Pingo's in Boston, so shipping's quick. Yeah, they're pricey, but buying from sponsors like these is your best bet. The two far left are Forrest's, most of the rest are Hans and Dennis discus.
Take a look at this - http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showth...ent-Price-list. Forrest is top-notch. Pingo's now selling their discus and I think he's gonna do great. Seen his fish, read reviews, people love 'em. This new listing has some beautiful discus in the 3.5 - 4.5” range. I've got 4 of Forrest's discus, bought at those sizes, and they've grown out nicely. Pingo's in Boston, so shipping's quick. Yeah, they're pricey, but buying from sponsors like these is your best bet. The two far left are Forrest's, most of the rest are Hans and Dennis discus.
Re: Should I get Discus?
Re: Should I get Discus?
Thanks for the link to Forrest's discus. Their fish look great and are at a good size. I really like the ones at 3.5-4.5 inches, seems like the perfect size for my tank. As for the prices, they seem pretty reasonable considering the quality of the fish. I'm a bit concerned about shipping though, do you know how much it would be to our area?
Thanks for the link to Forrest's discus. Their fish look great and are at a good size. I really like the ones at 3.5-4.5 inches, seems like the perfect size for my tank. As for the prices, they seem pretty reasonable considering the quality of the fish. I'm a bit concerned about shipping though, do you know how much it would be to our area?