Changing my stocking plan, again

[jackturbine]

Honestly, I'm changing my plans again, but can you really blame me? I've got a 48x18x18" tank, and it's about to get even more interesting.

Right now, I've got 7 Angels - 5 juveniles and 2 full-grown males - and 22 Albino Congos that are almost adults. I know, I know, it's overstocked, but I was planning on removing the juvenile angels and getting some adult females, and then getting rid of half the congos.

But then my dad surprised me with an amazing opportunity - he's getting me discus imported from the capital! I've always dreamed of having discus, but I've been held back by my lack of knowledge and not wanting to spend a ton of money on them.

I think I'm finally ready, though - I've got 12+ tanks and years of experience under my belt. He's already ordered 10 discus - 2 Ring Leopards, 2 Red Melons, 2 Red Leopard Pigeons, 2 Leopard Snake Skins, and 2 Yellow Pigeons.

My dad says it'll be fine, but I'm not so sure - most sources say a 55-gallon tank can only handle 3-5 discus, and I've got a 66-gallon tank. It's heavily planted, and I'm willing to do big water changes, but I'm still a bit worried. I mean, discus aren't as big as angels, but apparently, they need more space? I've also heard they're super calm and don't swim around much, so maybe they don't need as much space after all...

My dad used to keep discus, from 2 inches to adults, so I'm hoping he knows what he's talking about. If I really have to, I'd consider decreasing the number of discus to 8 or 6, but 6 seems like too few to me. We've already ordered them, so we could just sell the extras if we need to.

I'm really attached to my angels, especially the adults, so I'd want to keep those 2. But the discus we're getting are only 2 inches big - will they get bullied by the angels? And what about tankmates? My dad wants to add a redtail black shark, which I think is a great idea - I've heard they're peaceful with other species, but not with themselves. I'd probably just get one, though.

I'm also thinking about adding some cories - a group of 8 or 12. They're pretty pricey here, but they'd be a great addition to the tank. And maybe, just maybe, I'll add some bristlenoses my friend is giving me.

So, the overall stock would look like this: 8-10 discus, 2 angels, 8-12 peppered corydoras, 1-3 redtail black sharks, and maybe 4 albino bristlenoses. Is this overstocked? What can I do to improve it?

[jaguar]

I'm starting to think that 10 discus might be too much for my tank, especially with the other fish I'm planning to add. I mean, I've got a 66gal tank, but I'm not sure if it's tall enough for discus - they're pretty tall fish, right? And I'm also a bit worried about the water temperature for the corydoras - I've heard they need cooler water, around 26-27 degrees Celsius, while discus start at 28 degrees Celsius. I'm not sure if that's going to work out. Maybe someone with more experience can chime in and give me some advice - I'd really appreciate it.

[jackturbine]

I'm starting to think that 10 discus might be too much for my tank, especially with the other fish I'm planning to add. I mean, I've got a 66gal tank, but I'm not sure if it's tall enough for discus - they're pretty tall fish, right? And I'm also a bit worried about the water temperature for the corydoras - I've heard they need cooler water, around 26-27 degrees Celsius, while discus start at 28 degrees Celsius. I'm not sure if that's going to work out. Maybe someone with more experience can chime in and give me some advice - I'd really appreciate it.

18" tall is really not enough for discus, I've heard they're quite the vertical swimmers. I've kept corries in the lower 30s before, they seem to be okay... We live in the Philippines, where the tropical climate kinda prepares them for the heat, I guess. They've been kept and bred here for generations, so I'm pretty sure they can handle it.

I'm more concerned about the compatibility of the fish, to be honest. I'm going for a pretty peaceful tank, with less fast-moving, crazy fish. I want to make sure the discus, angels, and corries can all coexist without any issues. The redtail black shark might be a bit of a concern, but I'm hoping they'll be okay with the other fish.

[sidthy]

Honestly, I'm starting to think the tank might not be spacious enough for the discus, and that's a concern for me. I mean, I've heard they can thrive in smaller tanks, but only if you're okay with them being a bit stressed and not reaching their full potential.

[graye]

As a parent myself, I must say I'm shocked by the stocking plan you've outlined. I would never dream of pairing a red-tailed shark with discus - it's a recipe for disaster. In my opinion, discus are best kept alone, without the stress of other fish competing for resources. And as for the number of discus, I think 10 is far too many for a tank of your size. I've always been a proponent of understocking, rather than overstocking, and I believe that's especially true when it comes to delicate fish like discus.

To be frank, I think you're taking a huge risk by introducing so many discus to a tank that's already home to other fish. And let's not forget the compatibility issues - discus are notoriously finicky, and they won't tolerate tankmates that are too boisterous or competitive. I understand that you're excited about the prospect of keeping discus, but I implore you to reconsider your plan and think about what's best for the fish.

I know you're looking for confirmation, but I'm afraid I'm not going to give it to you. The discus are on their way, and I hope for your sake that everything works out. But I have to be honest with you - I have my doubts.

[sidthy]

Honestly, I'm changing my plans again, but can you really blame me? I've got a 48x18x18" tank, and it's about to get even more interesting.

Right now, I've got 7 Angels - 5 juveniles and 2 full-grown males - and 22 Albino Congos that are almost adults. I know, I know, it's overstocked, but I was planning on removing the juvenile angels and getting some adult females, and then getting rid of half the congos.

But then my dad surprised me with an amazing opportunity - he's getting me discus imported from the capital! I've always dreamed of having discus, but I've been held back by my lack of knowledge and not wanting to spend a ton of money on them.

I think I'm finally ready, though - I've got 12+ tanks and years of experience under my belt. He's already ordered 10 discus - 2 Ring Leopards, 2 Red Melons, 2 Red Leopard Pigeons, 2 Leopard Snake Skins, and 2 Yellow Pigeons.

My dad says it'll be fine, but I'm not so sure - most sources say a 55-gallon tank can only handle 3-5 discus, and I've got a 66-gallon tank. It's heavily planted, and I'm willing to do big water changes, but I'm still a bit worried. I mean, discus aren't as big as angels, but apparently, they need more space? I've also heard they're super calm and don't swim around much, so maybe they don't need as much space after all...

My dad used to keep discus, from 2 inches to adults, so I'm hoping he knows what he's talking about. If I really have to, I'd consider decreasing the number of discus to 8 or 6, but 6 seems like too few to me. We've already ordered them, so we could just sell the extras if we need to.

I'm really attached to my angels, especially the adults, so I'd want to keep those 2. But the discus we're getting are only 2 inches big - will they get bullied by the angels? And what about tankmates? My dad wants to add a redtail black shark, which I think is a great idea - I've heard they're peaceful with other species, but not with themselves. I'd probably just get one, though.

I'm also thinking about adding some cories - a group of 8 or 12. They're pretty pricey here, but they'd be a great addition to the tank. And maybe, just maybe, I'll add some bristlenoses my friend is giving me.

So, the overall stock would look like this: 8-10 discus, 2 angels, 8-12 peppered corydoras, 1-3 redtail black sharks, and maybe 4 albino bristlenoses. Is this overstocked? What can I do to improve it?

Discus grow way bigger than Angels, and I'm starting to think my tank is in trouble. Ten discus in a 48x18x18 just doesn't seem right to me. I know they're not as large as Angels right now, but they're going to get huge. I'm seriously doubting my dad's advice on this one. He's had experience with discus before, but I just can't shake the feeling that we're making a mistake.

[jackturbine]

I've been reading up on discus sizes and I'm shocked - I thought they only reached 5 inches max, with some varieties going up to 8. But now I'm hearing they can grow way bigger. I'm seriously worried about the space in my tank. I know we've already ordered them, but we could always resell them if needed. We own a pet shop, so it's not like it'd be a huge loss. I've been scouring forums and articles, but I'm starting to think the info I found might be outdated. Can anyone give me a realistic idea of how many discus I can fit in my tank?

[jackturbine]

I came across another post here saying the bare minimum for discus is 16" in height, but that's from way back in 2007 - is that considered outdated info now?

[sidthy]

I'd say you're looking at a minimum of 24" in height for discus, honestly.

[jackturbine]

Honestly, I'm starting to think the tank might not be spacious enough for the discus, and that's a concern for me. I mean, I've heard they can thrive in smaller tanks, but only if you're okay with them being a bit stressed and not reaching their full potential.

That's really disappointing to hear, I've always dreamed of keeping discus. I guess it's not meant to be, at least not in my current tank. I was thinking, would it be possible to just keep them for a bit, until they outgrow my tank or I get a bigger one? Just for the experience of it, you know?