Is My Tank Ok For Discus?

[chesterjohn]

I'm thinking of getting some Discus to go in my tank, but just wondered if my tank is suitable.

It's fully cycled for about a year
Ph 6.8
Nitrate (hard to tell, somewhere between 20 and 40. Are they extremely fussy about low nitrates?)
I need to check the hardness is suitable before adding them, but know the limits on this.


Current stocking is
Bulldog Plec
2 Bolivian rams
4 Cardinals (upped to 10 soon)
5 Black neon tetras
2 Red Robin Gouramis
4 Guppies
2 Ottos
6 Amano shrimp

Any comments on the stocking? (the tetras both had a load of random deaths a few months ago and need replacing). The guppies are old and won't be replaced when they die.

The tank is my main concern. Is a Juwel Rio 240 large enough for them, it only has a water height of about 45cm.

 

[hillmar77]

Tank size should be good for a pack of them. I'm not sure of the Gouramis, and the shrimp would probly become dinner. I've also heard of Ottos sucking the sides on discus so that might be a no no.

 

[chesterjohn]

Tank size should be good for a pack of them. I'm not sure of the Gouramis, and the shrimp would probly become dinner. I've also heard of Ottos sucking the sides on discus so that might be a no no.

The shrimp are always hiding, maybe they'll stay clear. Plus they're quite big to be eaten.

How many is a good number to get? 4 or 5?

 

[adzilla88]

Discus are shoaling fish and should be kept in groups of 5+ according to many.

I'm no Discus expert, but with your current stocking I'm not sure you would have room to accomodate a group of 4-5, this would lead to your tank being overstocked for sure.

Also Discus prefer much warmer temperatures, over 80F which many other species will struggle to tolerate.

From glancing at your initial stocking the Bulldog plec would definitely be unsuitable with Discus as these appreciate a temperature of 20-23 degrees and a heavy flow, something which Discus will not enjoy.

Heres's a topic with someone who was in a similar position to you, all be it having alot less fish than you, and people only advised him to keep 5-6 Discus MAX.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/242545-how-many-discus-in-240l-tank/

If I were you, I'd do some searching on google and fish forums alike, looking for topics similar to your situation and seeing what advice was given.

Hope that helps.

 

[snowflake311]

Go with 5 no less more is always best. The gourami could be a problem it depends on the fish. Besides that the others would
be fine.

 

[Monty-2010]

I think you should be ok, tank size is fine stocking doesn't seem a problem except for the shrimp, but if they've been ok with the rams then maybe they'll be ok with discus. However i would up the number of cardinals up to about 15-20 simply because they look a lot better.

As the others have already said go for as big a group as you can no less than 4/5

 

[chesterjohn]

I think you should be ok, tank size is fine stocking doesn't seem a problem except for the shrimp, but if they've been ok with the rams then maybe they'll be ok with discus. However i would up the number of cardinals up to about 15-20 simply because they look a lot better.

As the others have already said go for as big a group as you can no less than 4/5

So will I or won't I be overstocked?

##151### says I'd be about 100% if I got 5 in with what I have now.

 

[markandhisfish]

Bulldog Plec re-home
2 Bolivian rams can be kept if wanted i had 2 in with my discus and they were fine at the temps
4 Cardinals (upped to 10 soon) perfect as you plan . keep/increase
5 Black neon tetras id rehome these
2 Red Robin Gouramis rehome
4 Guppies rehome
2 Ottos rehome
6 Amano shrimp deffinately rehome or theyl be dinner

then add 6 discus all at the same time in the tank youve got 6 discus , plus the cardinals will see you basicly fully stocked , you could maybe add some sterbai corys but thats realisticly about it .

 

[ajs2294]

Your stats are fine with the frequent water changes you'll be doing with discus your nitrate should drop below 15. Also Id stay away from the Ottos they do have a tendency to attach to the discus for their "Milk"

 

[snowflake311]

This whole thing with fish going after the discus slime coat is silly. I have never seen my plecos touch my fish. The only fish I had that did try and suck on my Ram was a nasty CAE. The ottos are much more plant eatters and a pray animal. The last thing on their little mind is to go after a bigger fish for food.

But I would go with Marks stocking advice if you want discus.

 

[Ostara]

You'll just have to watch the otos carefully. I had to rehome all my otos because they went after slime from my discus, usually going at them at night and leaving marks on their sides. I have also seen them attempt to latch onto rainbowfish, rams, and even tetras. I met someone on another forum that also had otos going after her discus, though as I recall they only targeted her pigeonblood for some reason.

In my experience, if the otos I got had been in a tank where a fish had died and been there long enough for them to sample, they would always attempt to eat slime from other fish when I bought them. The ones I had the longest I got right after they had come in to the store and they behaved themselves well until I got discus. Apparently their slime was too much for them to resist.

 

[ajs2294]

This whole thing with fish going after the discus slime coat is silly.

Actually it is a commonly experienced problem amongst discus owners. Just because one fish doesn't suck on a discus, you can't rule out the possibility.

 

[snowflake311]

I guess so. But they are just so small and shy. I had otos and they were so cute. My oto would hang out with my pleco. One time He just sat on my plecos back once just chilling not sucking on him. It was too funny. So I guess I just could never think of my little fish going after big fish. But I guess it could happen.