Can I Keep A Discus In This Tank?

[SteveVenezia]

Hey,

I've got a well maintained 180 litre (50 gal) tank, with lots of plants and quite a few small fish (danios, tetras, corys), but it's missing a center piece. I'd really like a Discus, but I'm not sure if the tank is big enough for one. The dimensions are 100x45x40 cms.

Is my tank big enough for one? Are they ok on their own? Could I even have 2 in there? Are they ok with neon tetras? I've read that the minimum tank size needed to 40 gal but I'd like the advice of people here.

Thanks!

Steve

 

[Teelie]

I'd say it is big enough for one but the size isn't as important as the maintaining of water quality in this case. Discus can be quite demanding fish and too many inhabitants might make the water just a little too unhealthy for a Discus. Or would be if the claims on their sensitivity are as true as some people claim. Sometimes the sensitive nature of some fish is overstated so it should be fine if you keep up with regular water changes.

 

[robbo87]

unless you have the time and effort to maintain your tank i wouldnt suggest you get one, water needs to be filtered really well, you have to keep your P.H levels stable at around 6.5-7.0, all the features need to be kept clean an all together no an easy fish to keep

 

[gourami_fan]

I advise you to research on discus very very thouroughly because they are a very demanding fish that needs good water quality and lots of time. If you happen to lose a discus, thats a lot of money down the drain.

Discus needs to have a water temperature of atleast 82F-88F which your danios and corys might not tolerate. Also, neon tetras are natural food for discus. So they will gobble them all up. They are slow moving fish so your danios might stress them and beat them to the food faster. They require a good varied diet to have a healthy growth. Also your tank is large enough to house a couple of discus, but they prefer to be in groups or else they will bully eachother, unless you have a breeding pair, but that is costly $$$.

Just do a lot of research before you try them, because I know I would regret it if one dies on me.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

unless you have the time and effort to maintain your tank i wouldnt suggest you get one, water needs to be filtered really well, you have to keep your P.H levels stable at around 6.5-7.0, all the features need to be kept clean an all together no an easy fish to keep

Ph really isn't as important as most people used to believe. My Ph is probably around 7.5.

Water filtration is good, but you have to make sure current isn't too strong.

By suggesting one, do you mean 5? Discus need to be kept in groups of 4-5.

What kind of fish do you have exactly and how many? Discus are very sensitive, and if you wanted them you would have to get 4 or 5 (preferably 5.) Water changes daily or every other day.

 

[mister-t]

discus are not as difficult to keep as people suggest,my p.h is 7,water changes are the most important thing,i do two 25% water changes a week,as for keeping neons with discus,i have neons in my tank and harlequins and my discus leave them alone,as long as you keep up with the water changes then everything should be fine
mister-t

 

[Squidman]

I think you could keep 2-3 in there. Remeber they get up to 8 inches each and they are definetly not hardy.

 

[PRW1988]

They don't always get up to 8", generally around 6". In a tank of 50gallons you could probably keep 5, but you'd need heavy filtration (atleast 3 times the tank) and you'd need to be doing water changes of atleast 30% every other day minimum. Discus require very clean water and are very suseptable to hole-in-the-head disease and ich. The discus would be the only thing in the tank though, there wouldn't be room for neon tetras (plus the neons would probably become food eventually). You may have room for a BN pleco for algea, but that'd be all...

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

There not as difficult to keep as people think, especially in a well planted tank as it keeps the water pristene. Keep up water changes. ph as long as it is stable is not to much to worry about. You can keep less than 5 discus together, when you have a breeding pair, it is quite literally a pair.

BUT it is best to have a larger number as they do feel more comfortable and will be far less timid.

Again, sufficient water changes, good filtration, stable conditions, good food and plenty of free swimming space and discus are no more difficult than guppies.