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hello! i have a new plan, but just thought i'd run it by the experts first!

i have had three discus in a tank with some rummynose for nearly 2 years now, and i just love them.

so, naturally when my 55G community tank started to look a little empty, i began to consider putting another group of discus in there.

currently, it is populated by 6 red and blue columbian tetras, 4 harlequin rasboras, 3 neon tetras, 3 red minor tetras, 1 gold gourami, and 1 pearl gourami.

the tank has been set up for almost 3 years and is run by a rena xp3 filter. it is decorated with live and silk plants and large pieces of lava rock (which may be removed).

i was planning to get 3 or 4 small discus. do you think this is a good idea? could the other fish tolerate slightly higher temperatures? (it is currently kept at about 76F)?

also, would the filtration be too strong for discus to be comfortable? i have the discharge deflected against the front of the tank, so it is not as powerful as if it were pointed at the opposite end of the tank.

finally, i know discuss are usually brownish when small. is there any way to predict what colour they will be when mature?

thanks for the help in advance!

Niggit,

Discus are definitely possible! They like temps at 82F-86F and your fish will easily adapt to the lower range of those temperatures. I would be concerned about the gourami as they can be territorial.

The filter is good for the tank, providing 350 GPH output for your 55 G tank or a 6X turnover for your tank. If you could diffuse the output with a spraybar, as opposed to a jet, discus would appreciate the reduction in water flow.

Selecting small discus would be great but I would not consider two inch fish if you are going to maintain this tank as a community tank. Juvenile discus are high maintenance to grow. Consider large daily or every other day water changes with feedings up to 5 times a day for them to show their best growth.

Consider larger fish or using your existing discus in the community tank. Take the youngsters and devote a tank as a nursery for them. I would purchase the discus from a breeder or on-line. Reputable breeders and importers that I know are Cary at GreatLakesDiscus.com, Jack at KCDiscus.com and Jeff at DiscusFarm.US. Each of these individuals are very professional, helpful and stand behind their fish. Their websites show the fish that they have in stock.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

thanks so much for the info! i'll keep you posted on what i decide to do!