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Well, I always said that I would eventually get into discus when I was more experienced in the hobby, and now that I've been fishkeeping for well over 5 years, with much learning from this wonderful site of course, I think I might be ready to go ahead .

I read trace_russ' discus guide, very informative. I think I have most of the ingredients in place. I have an 80 gallon tank which I will be converting from the mbuna set-up that I've had for years, filtered with a Fluval 404. My intentions are to plant the tank heavily, mostly with anubias on driftwood and a foreground plant like tenellus as well. I'm going to try to keep the plants simple but effective for the time being and focus on the fish, plus anubias is my favourite aquatic plant. My ph is quite high, I think 7.6 out of the tap, and moderately hard, so if the driftwood doesn't keep it down at all I'll get some peat into the filter as well.

I want this to be a very striking tank visually, so I'm hoping to keep perhaps 6 beautifully coloured discus, and probably a very large school of cardinals - in my opinion you just can't beat that combination for beauty. Or perhaps a smaller school of cardinals (still at least 20) and maybe some slightly larger tetras such as bleeding hearts. And of course some bottom feeders to top it all off, some SAE and cories or perhaps yoyo loaches. Of course to have all of these fish may well be too much but I am just pondering at the moment.

Just looking for opinions on my plans so far and whether there is anything important that I might not have thought of yet, plus some stocking ideas if anyone has any.

EDITED TO ADD: I forgot to say that I'm planning to get the tank up and running sometime in May-July this year, after I return from overseas and hopefully have some cash to work with.

Last edited by just beginning at 11-Jan-2006 23:48

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde

Hi there,

great to hear that you have deceided to "take the plunge" and keep discus. Your tank plans sound fine. I keep a range of tetras and BN cats with mine and I have no problems with discus. Where in aust are you? Because I may be able to put you in touch with a good breeder. The driftwood will bring the ph down but slowly, talk to the seller and find out if you really need to lower the ph, if they are kept in the same water conditions that you have from the tap then if they are happy and healthy it wont be a problem. You only really need to lower the ph and soften the water if you intend to breed them.

I use a buffer to lower my ph down to between 6.5 and 6.8 only because i believe that they are happier and healthy in the lower ph water and if I do get a ammonia spike for some reason (mainly me being slack and not doing w/c when i should), then they are not affected as much.

Remember that consistant clean water conditions are the best way to keep your fish happy and healthy.

Trace

Thanks for the advice . I live in Brisbane, I know a lot of good breeders around here for africans but will have to start the search anew for discus breeders now!

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde

Hi,

The man you want to get in touch with is Rod Lewis in brisbane. PM me and I will give you his phone contact number.

Trace