Yet another stocking change of plans...

[Jacob the tank keeper]

Yup, another change of plans, but can you blame me?! 48x18x18" tank.
Currently
7 Angels - 2 full grown, 5 juveniles. Both adults are male.
22 Albino Congos - Semi Adults.

I know it's overstocked, I was planning on removing the juvies and getting adult female angels and removing like half the congos.
But my dad just gave me an amazing opportunity! He decided to buy me discus imported from the capital!... Discus are my dream fish, always has been, The only thing stopping me is my lack of knowledge, and unwillingness to spend a large buck for them.
I think I'm ready, having 12+ tanks and being years into the hobby.

He already ordered 10 discus, those being the -
2x Ring Leopard Discus
2x Red Melon Discus
2x Red Leopard Pigeon Discus
2x Leopard Snake Skin Discus
2x Yellow Pigeon Discus

My dad told me It should be fine but I'm doubting it since most sources say a 55 gal could only hold 3-5 Discus, I have a 66gal.
My tank is heavily planted of course and I'm willing to do large water changes. I'm a bit confused as they aren't as large as angels but apparently need more space..? From what I've heard from my dad they're also a REALLY calm fish and don't swim around much so they don't need much space...

I'm also going to add that my dad used to keep them, from 2 inch all the way to adult.

Of course, if I REALLY can't push it I would decrease to 8 maybe 6 but I think 6 is a little too small... We already ordered them and they're getting ready to ship but we could just sell the extras.

I'm also pretty unwilling to let go of my angels, the Congos could go. These angels are the ones I'm kinda attached to, especially the adults. I would keep those 2 but the discus we're ordering are 2 inches big. Would they be bullied?

As for tank mates, My dad says he wants to add a redtail black shark, I actually like them too but I don't know much about them. I heard they're peaceful to other species but not to themselves. I was thinking on 3 but 1 should be enough for me...
I'm thinking of corries, a group of 8 or 12. They're pretty expensive here...

The overall stock would look like this
8-10 Discus
2 Angels
8-12 Peppered Corydoras
1-3 Redtail Black shark
(Maybe) 4 Albino Bristlenoses
Is this overstocked? How can I improve it? I might also add the bristlenoses my friend is giving me.

 

[BigJfish12]

With 10 discus I would say your fully stocked and possibly over stocked once you add all the other fish to your tank would be well over capacity. Don't know if you tank is high enough for discus as the are quite tall fish. Also corydoras need cooler water max of about 26 to 27 degrees Celsius while discus start at about 28 degrees Celsius. A more knowledgeable member may be able to provide further advice and correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Jacob the tank keeper]

With 10 discus I would say your fully stocked and possibly over stocked once you add all the other fish to your tank would be well over capacity. Don't know if you tank is high enough for discus as the are quite tall fish. Also corydoras need cooler water max of about 26 to 27 degrees Celsius while discus start at about 28 degrees Celsius. A more knowledgeable member may be able to provide further advice and correct me if I'm wrong.

18" tall is not enough? I've kept corries in the lower 30s before, they're okay... We live in the tropical climate of Philippines, pretty sure they're used to the heat. They've been kept and bred here for generations.
What would you have to say about the compatibility of fish?

I'm also going to add that I'm going for a pretty peaceful tank, less fast moving crazy fish

 

[Ichthys]

The tank is not big enough for discus… unless you’re happy with small, stressed discus.

 

[GaryE]

I'm someone else's Dad.

I would never put a red tailed shark with discus. I would never put other fish with Discus. I would never put that many discus in anything under 180 gallons, even though they are man made morphs which I dislike. But I am not you, or your Dad.

If you're seeking confirmation, you probably won't get it. But the Discus are ordered, and you'll get them! I hope it somehow magically works and you still have them in 5 years.

 

[Ichthys]

I'm a bit confused as they aren't as large as angels but apparently need more space..?

Discus grow MUCH bigger than Angels. You think a 48x18x18 is big enough for these…?

I can promise you ten discus will not do well long term in a 48x18x18.

 

[Jacob the tank keeper]

Damn, from what I read online it said they only reached 5" large. Some types up to 8... how much can you fit in my tank?? none? it's ordered but that doesn't mean we couldn't just resell them. We own a petshoppe... I've been reading what people said in other forums and articles online but I'm guessing those were outdated

 

[Jacob the tank keeper]

I read on another post in this forum that the bare minimum is 16" in height, but it was from 2007. Outdated info?

 

[Ichthys]

Minimum of 24” high, I’d say.

 

[Jacob the tank keeper]

Minimum of 24” high, I’d say.

awe that sucks. These are my dream fish since day one so that is a big bummer. Could I just keep them temporarily until they're larger for the fun of it? Or until I get a even larger tank...

 

[Jacob the tank keeper]

I've been reading a lot of articles... most say 55 gals for 6 should be okay, or 5-10 gals per discus. Would even 6 not fit?

 

[Ichthys]

Your tank is big enough for small ones…


I’ve just read your first post properly, and must repeat Gary’s comment about “sharks”…

As for tank mates, My dad says he wants to add a redtail black shark, I actually like them too but I don't know much about them. I heard they're peaceful to other species but not to themselves. I was thinking on 3 but 1 should be enough for me...

They are territorial, and will (want to) chase everything away from the middle of the tank, which will be its territory. They are not a community fish. Keeping more than one doesn’t work unless the tank is huge, and you definitely don’t want any territorial fish with discus.

 

[Jacob the tank keeper]

Your tank is big enough for small ones…


I’ve just read your first post properly, and must repeat Gary’s comment about “sharks”…


They are territorial, and will (want to) chase everything away from the middle of the tank, which will be its territory. They are not a community fish. Keeping more than one doesn’t work unless the tank is huge, and you definitely don’t want any territorial fish with discus.

Ohh, I didn't read much about them. Well, I'll forget about them.

 

[GaryE]

Maybe I'm weird (okay, I'm weird) but I never ever see as fish as is. I see it as what it will be. I'm a reasonably skilled fishkeeper, and fish live long lives here. I never buy a fish to get it a bigger tank when it grows. That's newb code for getting it a big grave when it dies.

Those Discus will probably come in small, and as they grow, the group'll shed members. Most aquarium stuff posted online is about disposable fish. Fishkeepers are consumers in search of novelty. The expectation is they won't live long. If sellers are posting, they want to move fish, but they also think high turnover. If those fish are still in their tanks in a few weeks, the tank has become a money pit.

I've gotten around my desire to see and learn about new fish by having a fishroom full of tanks.

The old German guys in my old club had big tanks with at most a few Discus in them. They had been breeders, and were now relaxing and keeping very technically difficult fish unbred. Discus offered them a challenge, and could be pets, though they'd never admit it.

The new members in the club got bored. They turned over fish all the time, very angry their value didn't increase with time. They'd pay 50 bucks for a small Discus, and sell a way larger Discus back to the store because they wanted the tank for something else, for $10. You don't have that issue with the family store - you can dabble in Discus and if you see problems, keep your favourites and sell the rest. Some stores use new hobbyists with reasonable skills to grow things out, knowing they'll get bored.

I've entered into deals where I was growing fish clearly and openly, and would hand them over at a certain point. That's how I got to keep Retroculus, and several other soon to be large Geophagines which fascinated me but would outgrow my resources. Everything was clear up front with a handshake contract. If you didn't have the angels and Congos, you could do something like that with a pile of Discus and the family store.

I don't worry about height of tank for Discus. Look at their maximum size (I have seen big ones) and have maybe 10cm more. Fish go into shallows. Tank depth is often for you to see them.

I have a stocking rule that makes me about as popular as a guy with loud gas in a Church wedding. For fish like Geophagus or Discus - 20 gallons unshared per fish, with 40% weekly water changes. For angels, 15 gallons, unshared, and the same. I'm going to show up in a trashy sidebar ad saying 'aquarium store owners hate this guy", because that is seen as light stocking. But I don't post about how to keep a fish that should live around a decade for one year.

 

[Jacob the tank keeper]

Maybe I'm weird (okay, I'm weird) but I never ever see as fish as is. I see it as what it will be. I'm a reasonably skilled fishkeeper, and fish live long lives here. I never buy a fish to get it a bigger tank when it grows. That's newb code for getting it a big grave when it dies.

Those Discus will probably come in small, and as they grow, the group'll shed members. Most aquarium stuff posted online is about disposable fish. Fishkeepers are consumers in search of novelty. The expectation is they won't live long. If sellers are posting, they want to move fish, but they also think high turnover. If those fish are still in their tanks in a few weeks, the tank has become a money pit.

I've gotten around my desire to see and learn about new fish by having a fishroom full of tanks.

The old German guys in my old club had big tanks with at most a few Discus in them. They had been breeders, and were now relaxing and keeping very technically difficult fish unbred. Discus offered them a challenge, and could be pets, though they'd never admit it.

The new members in the club got bored. They turned over fish all the time, very angry their value didn't increase with time. They'd pay 50 bucks for a small Discus, and sell a way larger Discus back to the store because they wanted the tank for something else, for $10. You don't have that issue with the family store - you can dabble in Discus and if you see problems, keep your favourites and sell the rest. Some stores use new hobbyists with reasonable skills to grow things out, knowing they'll get bored.

I've entered into deals where I was growing fish clearly and openly, and would hand them over at a certain point. That's how I got to keep Retroculus, and several other soon to be large Geophagines which fascinated me but would outgrow my resources. Everything was clear up front with a handshake contract. If you didn't have the angels and Congos, you could do something like that with a pile of Discus and the family store.

I don't worry about height of tank for Discus. Look at their maximum size (I have seen big ones) and have maybe 10cm more. Fish go into shallows. Tank depth is often for you to see them.

I have a stocking rule that makes me about as popular as a guy with loud gas in a Church wedding. For fish like Geophagus or Discus - 20 gallons unshared per fish, with 40% weekly water changes. For angels, 15 gallons, unshared, and the same. I'm going to show up in a trashy sidebar ad saying 'aquarium store owners hate this guy", because that is seen as light stocking. But I don't post about how to keep a fish that should live around a decade for one year.

Ohh haha thanks a lot, that means it should be fine right? To keep them forever? I think I might just grow out the discus and steal a spot in the petshop's 4 ft to make it a display tank for discus... just to split them, maybe sell them. I read somewhere that pros would get 10-12 wait till they grow up and keep 2 males and the rest of the females.