Hi all. Hubby is bring us home yet another tank this weekend. This is going to be our last freshwater tank before venturing into the marine world. Ideally, we'd heavily plant this tank and use it for discus. BUT, we've never had either, live plants or discus. The tank is a 55 gallon. I realize I am going to have to let it cycle, as we did with the others, but have a few questions. Since this will most likely be our last freshwater (we still have all the others) we want to make it a good one. So, with a 55, how many discus would do well when planning for their adult size? Also, any tips on live plants are greatly appriciated....what kinds are easy to grow, is it OK to add them before and during the cycling process or better to wait? substrate?? what other fish go well with discus and plants?

If anyone has other thoughts on what to put in besides discus, I'd be willing to give it a thought. Currently we have orandas, bettas, angel, dojo loach, twig catfish, and many many many snails. We do like the cichlids too, but I don't know much about them as to which are best, what they do well with, how big they get, etc etc.

Thanks for any insight!

hey there !

discus are great fish !!! a little bit finnicky bull well worth it, the key is a large number (5 in your tank would be good) and plenty of coverage, whilst keeping the open swimming space also...

to mix with them id go for rummy nose tetra's, corydoras, fancy plecs and rams etc....

best way to do it is some wood in both ends of the tank, heavily surrounded by plants, with plants all the way along the back of the tank, plenty of water softener and black water extract.... try to pick medium to low light plants, and dont have the lights too bright... maybe a sand substrate with a plant substrate underneath ?

Good luck hun....

Kev

Great advice!! I do have a couple more q's...you said fancy plec's...what about bristlenoses?? I have always really liked those but if they won't work, I won't do it.

When you say water softener and black water extract....I'm not familiar with these. Usually, all I do to tap water is add the aqua safe dechlorinator...is this not enough with discus?? I want to be sure to do everything right, and if I can't, I will try something else....but we really do like the discus and would love to try them. thanks so much.

discus like soft water with a nice low ph, as low as 6, its a good idea to cut ro water with tapwater, as this will lower the ph, and then add a little black water exctract to add more minerals and soften the water a little more...

bristlenoses would work, but you could go for things more exotic like gold nuggets, and royal panaques....

wow youre lucky to have a hubby who brings home tanks. he must have a high salary.

i wish my fiance would come home with a 55 gallon tank! We have one, but i had to be the one to get it.... he would never bring me home something like that!

I love discus. Their beautiful. Sorry I cant be much help, Ive never had them before. I do have live plants. The idea with the wood on both sides, and plants surrounding them is a great idea. I did that in my 55 gallon tank. There is a link on my siggy... it is a goldie tank, but I have the same idea going on with the wood and plants as posted earlier.