How to Set Up a Discus Aquarium (Filtration, Water Chemistry, and More)

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for How to Set Up a Discus Aquarium (Filtration, Water Chemistry, and More)

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Lamarck Leland - 6 years ago

Is a taller aquarium better than a longer aquarium? I'm not a native speaker so I didn't understand

Lamarck Leland - 6 years ago

Thank you!

Discus101 - 6 years ago

Thanks for the comment! Yes, in general an aquarium that is a little taller is better for discus.

Salim S - 6 years ago

holy shit it's a full time job i think i'm gonna stick with a betta

Discus101 - 6 years ago

Haha... Not quite a full time job, but definitely more work than a good old betta!

Joshua Muehlbauer - 6 years ago

Omaha??? Nice!!! I used to live in Omaha. I'm in Columbus now. Would love to start keeping a couple discuss. Thanks for the video!!!

Discus101 - 6 years ago

No problem, thanks for the comment!

Ravinder Singh - 6 years ago

Anuj, I think you are from Chandigarh. I am interested in discus fishes, if you sell please let me know you contact address or mobile number because I am also from Chandigarh

Discus101 - 6 years ago

Sorry, I'm from the US.

Kaustav Gupta - 6 years ago

What’s your oxygen supply?

Discus101 - 6 years ago

The live plants help oxygenate the water (the filtration and water changes do as well). I don't use an air stone and the fish have never had problems.

Doug Geib - 6 years ago

can I only have 1 0r 2 discus in my 65 gallon with tank mates?

Discus101 - 6 years ago

As a general rule of thumb, you can keep about 1 discus for every 10 gal of tank volume. Discus generally do better in groups of 4 or more, so I would recommend buying at least that number. However, some of this depends on the numbers of other fish in the tank. That being said, if there are too many other fish to add 4 discus, I would wait until you have the space. Keeping 1 or 2 usually ends up with them becoming stressed and not doing well.

Jacob Grammer - 7 years ago

What is drilling an aquarium?

Jacob Grammer - 7 years ago

Discus101 thank you.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Many people who keep salt water aquariums or freshwater setups that require a sump (refugium) choose to have pipes attached to the back or bottom of the aquarium to provide a cleaner look. Aquariums made from non-tempered glass can be drilled with a glass cutting drill bit to allow the plumbing to be attached directly to the aquarium.

sassy boy 0182 - 7 years ago

great discus you got in there. just want to ask are you using 60 gallon marineland tank which has a 12.5 x 48 x 25 in size? i have same one. currently running on one 406 for 9 discus. can i add another 406? just for added filtration.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks for the comment! My tank is the same as yours. You have a few options for filtration: You could add a 406 and that would be plenty, but I prefer to have different types of filtration if I can. A few other choices would be a refugium with a HOB overflow box (assuming the tank is not drilled) or a simple HOB filter. These can help with oxygenation and provide some surface agitation to keep from getting a biofilm on the water.

Texas Hummer Owners - 7 years ago

Go Huskers, Creighton prep, and BT.

10. comment for How to Set Up a Discus Aquarium (Filtration, Water Chemistry, and More)

random fun - 7 years ago

subscribed cause you said you were in omaha! thats cool i live in lincoln and you never really see people from nebraska.

Shaun Tucker - 7 years ago

Can you keep Rams and discuss together

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Most of the time they will be fine together. Some people have a trouble with Rams chasing discus, but in general they seem to chase each other more. At some point I am going to put together a larger setup and will definitely include Rams in it.

RedwooD CichlidS - 7 years ago

get looking fish man awesome color,t thanks for all the info, see u on the next video

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks for the comment!

JGO - 7 years ago

I have a 65 gallon tank but it's not suitable for discus it's not long enough

JGO - 7 years ago

I don't know what fish stores you go to but my local stores don't drill tanks.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

That's too bad. There's a store in my city that drills them for a very reasonable price and one in a nearby city that does as well. You can always drill it yourself, it was just easier in my case to have them do it. Just make sure your tank is suitable for drilling before you start!

Long No - 7 years ago

How many gallons should I have for keeping discus

Discus101 - 7 years ago

I would recommend a minimum of 55 gallons with about 5 adult discus. Like many aquarium setups, the bigger the better.

Young Tank - 7 years ago

I can tell that your fish are healthy They are swimming and playing around something I don't see in a lot of discuss thanks

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks!

Luc Arseneault - 7 years ago

What color variety is your discus with blue and red thicker lines?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks!

Luc Arseneault - 7 years ago

Discus101 You have some of the most beautiful discus I have seen by the way!

Luc Arseneault - 7 years ago

Discus101 thanks!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

It's a Brilliant Turquoise. They are all Stendker discus (http://discusfishstore.com)

TheZimm44 - 7 years ago

Gorgeous fish. Where'd you get the purplish one? Wow.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks for the comment! I bought all of my discus from Hans (http://www.discus-hans-usa.com). They are expensive, but you get what you pay for!

Stephen Bailey - 7 years ago

Thanks for the vid.

I think the only thing that scares me about overflow is the possibility of it failing. Can you explain a worst case scenario? Or is this essentially fail proof? In the event of a power outage the return pump would fail and the siphon would simply break and all water would just remain still right? I've been studying these setups for a while and that's the only part of it that confuses me.

Can you help? Lol

Discus101 - 7 years ago

redwinger59, Awesome setup by the way!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks for the comment! I guess it depends on the setup. My setup has no risk of overflow even if the single drain is plugged. I have a separate video that shows what happens in the worst case scenarios (including a plugged drain). If you are using a refugium with baffles, there is a guard against flooding even if the single drain is plugged. Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oOgJfxfB_o

It looks to me like your setup (from what I can see in the pics) would be fine with a single drain as well. The baffle that separates the final compartment where the pump is from the plant compartment acts to limit the amount of water that can return to the aquarium. While the aquarium will fill with more water than normal, it will not overflow. There's not enough water in the pump compartment to overflow the tank. That being said, there's obviously nothing wrong with a second drain!

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

Hi Stephen - I don't want to dis this setup, as this video and its information is spot on. But when it comes to the drain, I do think that there is a substantial risk of flooding, not because of a power outage (for the reasons Discus101 states above) but because there is only a single drain line. If that drain line getting plugged by something, then the tank itself will overflow (as the pump in the sump keeps going but there is no longer a drain). I initially drilled my tank (it's set up in my office) for a single drain line, and then found it difficult to sleep at night for fear that I was going to flood my office in the event of a mis-hap.

I eventually decided to redrill and install a bean-animal style drain using the Eshopps Large Overflow box. This is not only a completely silent drain, but it also has TWO alternate lines (one main drain, one overflow, and one emergency, so three total) so it is basically fool-proof. I would highly recommend going that route - the Eshopps box is about $100 and comes with a drilling template and bit, so you can install it easily. Then it is just a matter of getting your lines plumbed down to the sump. You can see some pics of my setup (which is based primarily on Discus101's guidance in this video) here: http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?129795-Fishless-Cycle-Almost-Complete-Last-Questions-Before-Ordering-From-Hans

I hope that helps.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks for the comment! To answer your question, it depends on the setup. The way I have my overflow and return, there's no issue during power outages or pump failures. There is enough room in the refugium to allow the tank to drain until the plumbing is out of the water. The key is to make sure your refugium is tall/large enough to hold the extra water. Also, you need to have your plumbing high enough in the tank to minimize the amount of water that will drain to the refugium if power is lost.

Even if something was to block my drain in the tank, the baffles in the refugium prevent too much water from entering the tank and causing overflow. While certain setups can lead to problems during power outages or blockages, a good one prevents them. When I get a chance I'll make a video on my overflow setup and show what happens in each of the above cases.

20. comment for How to Set Up a Discus Aquarium (Filtration, Water Chemistry, and More)

Yorky One - 7 years ago

Nice set up - I've watched a few of these Discus video's & most seem to recommend using RO water. I've been using rainwater for years with no problems giving a PH neutral result & adding tapwater as a buffer. Is this because US discus keepers are compensating for intermittent rainfall where they live ?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Awesome setup! Thanks for the info!

The One - 7 years ago

Discus101 my pleasure, I have 6 discus, 4 red cap geophagus, 6 guppies and 3 plecos in a 75 gallon. My ph is 7.3 in warmer months and 7.9- 8.2 in colder months. I feed Northfin pellets every morning save Sunday. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday &Saturday evenings, I feed bloodworms or brine shrimp. My filtration is an API Filstar 4, Filstar 3, and a fluval Csearies 70 hob. I only have jungle val planted in the back ground and 2 amazon swords. I used to do a 50% water change every week, then every 2 weeks, and now mostly once a month. The thing that made it easier is that I use poly filter in both filters, biohome media in one and marine pure media in the other. I put chemipure blue on top of the poly filter. I replace poly filter and chemipure every six months. These biological medias made a world of difference. I purchased my fish from Discus Han's. His water ph was around 7.4 if I remember correctly.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks for the reply! The water in Omaha has a pH over 8. As I say in the video (I think) the breeder is in Baltimore and uses tap water there because it has a pH of 6.9-7.0. I think in the end it boils down to water stability. It's been a long time since I watched my video, but I tried to stress stable pH/water conditions. If you are able to achieve it with minimal water changes and tap water, then that's ideal! Is your tank planted? What filtration do you use? I'm just curious as I've backed my water changes off to every 2 weeks in the past, but can tell a definite difference in the aquarium appearance with that (build up of fish waste and eventual algae). Thanks!

The One - 7 years ago

Yorky One look, when getting fish that are 5 times or more removed from the wild, you don't need ro water unless your ph is 8.0 or something like that. A lot of discus are raised in tap water and do just fine. I refuse to use a bunch of plumbing and use ro water for my discus. I do water changes once a month. Mine are 7.5 inches and that's fine with me.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+113497339155026066862 Thanks for the comment! Using rainwater in place of RO water is a great idea. I think the primary reason people in the US use RO filters is the convenience. Part of it would certainly be intermittent rainfall and changing weather temps as well. Where I live we have summer temps that get up to 38° C and routinely have winter temps around -10° C. We can also go weeks sometimes without precipitation. In the end, it's just more convenient to use an RO filter and have a constant/predictable supply.

Michael Mitchell - 7 years ago

beautiful tank man!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks!

wahidul basher - 7 years ago

How much Dimension?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

24" high, 48" long, 13" deep (61 cm high, 122 cm long, 33 cm deep)

DirtySheets75 - 7 years ago

I doubt most fish stores will drill a tank for you, at least I know mine won't. Too much liability. It's not hard to get a clean cut hole if you use a decent bit and lubricate while you drill.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+Brandon Sheets, I guess it depends on the store. The one here in my town does as does one in a neighboring town, but if they don't where you live you can certainly drill your own or purchase a tank that's predrilled. I can't remember what exactly I say about it in the video, but drilling a tank is not that hard, it's more about purchasing a good bit to use once (kind of a waste if a store will do it for a few bucks). However, if your store doesn't, you're kind of stuck.

JamRock323 - 7 years ago

Where did you get the flexible tubing? Awesome tank!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

I believe it would mess up the connection. It comes in several lengths, so you can order the size that's closest to what you need and it should work out.

JamRock323 - 7 years ago

Discus101 can it be cut to size needed or will that mess up end connection?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks! The tubing from the drain to the sump came with the Eshopps sump. You can purchase the same thing here: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18365&cmpid=03cseYY&ref=6194&subref=AA&cmpid=PLA_G_6194&gclid=CJ2uzrHHrtQCFUi1wAodDlgB7A. The tubing from the pump back to the tank was purchased at a local fish store.

Joystikz_ - 7 years ago

Is 3 discus fine? Or should i add more?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+Joystikz_, You should always try to keep 5-6 discus at minimum, but it depends on the tank size and setup. With 3 you may find 1 gets picked on too much. 5-6 will help disperse the aggression.

Jacky Lee - 7 years ago

Thought it was a nice setup, until I got a view from the side very narrow!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks for the comment. It's the same footprint as a 55 gal. While it is narrow, there are advantages to it. As I say in the video, a taller tank is better for discus than a deep one. If you have room for both a tall and deep tank, go for it! In my case, I didn't and went with the taller option. In addition, a narrow tank keeps the fish at the front of the aquarium and prevents hiding. Like many things in the aquarium fish hobby, a lot of it is preference. I like the way it looks, but some may not.

ray speed - 7 years ago

lovely fish Subbed
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGMZY1pl09YpTfUC7AWvjQA

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks!

Milton Garcia - 7 years ago

Why do you have so many algae?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+Milton Garcia, Thanks for the comment. I don't really think there's an algae problem. In a later video I did have more algae and made some changes which seemed to help, but in this video I think the tank looks pretty good. My nitrate levels were non-existent when these videos were made and may have contributed to some of the algae. Circulation issues in the tank may also play a role.

Omer Syed - 7 years ago

Thank you for sharing Discus101.
Beautiful fish and a great set up. And a very concise and helpful video.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+Omer Syed, Thanks! My tank is in our family room and we have an active dog that runs around it quite a bit. For the most part, it doesn't seem to bother the fish, but if the kids are likely to tap on the glass or bump into it much, then you may want to set it up somewhere else. I like mine in the family room because we spend so much time there. If I put it somewhere else, I wouldn't see the fish nearly as much.

30. comment for How to Set Up a Discus Aquarium (Filtration, Water Chemistry, and More)

wingsOfAnthrax - 7 years ago

i heard you mention bleach and i came to the comments expecting 50 people saying that was a bad idea. guess i'm the first! lol

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+wingsOfAnthrax, Thanks for the comment. There is no problem using bleach to clean the filter socks as they are thoroughly rinsed twice and left to air dry and sit unused for weeks after the washing. Without going into detail, sodium hypochlorite has no longterm residual effects and is not of concern. Obviously, I would not recommend using it if you are planning on cleaning the sock and immediately putting it back in the tank.

Becky Gatlin - 7 years ago

Can you use artificial plants?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Sorry to hear that. I had a heater break in a saltwater aquarium years ago and cooked the fish as well, so I can sympathize.

Becky Gatlin - 7 years ago

Thank you so much. I am asking for my sister actually. I helped her set up a 60 gallon aquarium. She hasn't put any fish in it. She wants the discus fish, but the more she reads the more she chickens out, because she said it looks really complicated. She had them once before and there was something wrong with thermostat or heater and she cooked them. She has never gotten over it.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+Becky Gatlin, Sorry it took me so long to reply, I just saw the question. There are no problems using artificial plants. I like to try and create as natural an aquarium as possible which is why I use real plants. The other benefit is that they act as a natural filter. That being said, you can certainly set up a really nice aquarium with artificial plants.

Rosario Palau - 7 years ago

what do you use to grow the plants?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+Rosario Palau, No problem! I think you will enjoy it! For a first time, I would encourage you to go with adult discus. They are typically hardier and easier to take care than juveniles.

Rosario Palau - 7 years ago

Thank you so much for the quick response. Your plants and fish both look so beautiful and healthy! I am one of those who loves discus but has been too afraid to own them. I am setting up my planted aquarium and getting a few. Thanks to your videos like yours I can stop been so afraid and going for it!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+Rosario Palau At the time I made this video I was using just Flourish and Excel (dosing per the bottle). I've since added pressurized CO2 as well. Combined with good lighting, the plants seem to do really well.

Dean Morier - 7 years ago

Excellent video. I currently keep African cichlids (mbuna) and do a weekly water change, but on a trip it has gone to 2 weeks. Mbuna are very hardy, fast moving fish (some would say aggresssive), so they do very well with a weekly water change. I always wanted to keep discus and Africans and I have had the mbuna for 3 years now. The very frequent water changes necessary to keep Discus is the only reason I am hesitant to try Discus.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+Dean Morier Thanks for the comment! I've kept African cichlids off and on for years and have a 75 gallon setup right now that's been together for about 3 years. They are definitely hardy fish and fun to keep! Once a discus tank is well established and the fish are mature, you can back your water changes off some. I've been changing mine about once a week now for the past several months without issue. The tank is well-established and I have extra filtration which certainly helps.

How to care for koi fry By Sean hart - 7 years ago

Such an amazing video thank you for that

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks for the comment!

MyBladderIsFull - 7 years ago

Beautiful discus! How did you acclimate your discus to your aquarium water parameters when you brought them home, pH in particular? Was your aquarium water already cut with a RO/DI and local tap water mix when you introduced your fish to your tank?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

No problem! I've been meaning to put another video together and will try to do so soon.

MyBladderIsFull - 7 years ago

Thank you for the quick reply. You sir, are a very lucky man. Happy Discus keeping and may I put in a request for more videos please.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

All the red ones appear to be female. The Checkerboard has become one of the two dominant fish in the tank (the Leopard is the other) and all 3 of the red ones lay eggs on the driftwood and aquarium glass on a regular basis (weekly at minimum). Unfortunately, none of the other discus in the tank appear interested in fertilizing the eggs or becoming breeding pairs. Even if there appeared to be a breeding pair in the aquarium, I would probably not attempt to breed them at this time as I'm not set up for it and don't have enough time to properly care for fry. Maybe sometime in the future!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks! The parameters Stendker's are bred in is posted online. If you buy from someone else, you can email the breeder and ask before you buy. I slowly adjusted my aquarium to similar water parameters to what they were bred in a month or more before my discus arrived. Stendker's are raised in a pH of 7.0 so once my aquarium stabilized at this pH, I ordered them. I was blending ro/tap water from the beginning, well before introducing the discus. The primary reason for this is stability. I didn't want to make a major change like that after the discus arrived and risk a large pH swing.

MyBladderIsFull - 7 years ago

Forgot to ask if you plan to breed them.

speeddemons004 - 7 years ago

how often u do water changes some say 2 times a week i do it once every two weeks. would need to increase this if i got some discus

Steel balls - 6 years ago

you need to change the water if you want your fish to grow. The discus release a hormone that prevents growth, clean water helps with the slime coat(bacteria will kill them), if you leave it to 2 or 3 weeks between water changes save your money and time and go with some other fish that wont die.

Ian Mc Mahon - 7 years ago

My guy at our local pet store told me he does water changes every 4 to 6 weeks. He has over 40 years experience top guy. He also said he does not clean his substrate, good bacteria Ect.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

No problem!

speeddemons004 - 7 years ago

Ok thank you so much

Discus101 - 7 years ago

It really needs to be warmer than that. Stinker's are raised at 84-86° and that's probably where you'll find most discus raised at. My tank is a little cooler at 82-83° because I'm trying to keep Corys and Neons with the discus. While the Neons seem to do ok with that temp, the Corys struggle some and don't survive as long as they would in cooler water. I wouldn't recommend keeping the tank less than 81-82°. The closer you get to 84° the better. Keep in mind that in almost all discus setups, they are the center of attention. It's best to tailor your water quality and temps to them and allow the discus to thrive than to try and make too many compromises for the other fish you want to keep. The last thing you want is to spend a ton of money on high quality discus and have their growth stunt or coloration decrease because of stress, or have them die at $100-150 a piece... Hope that helps! Let me know if you have anymore questions.

speeddemons004 - 7 years ago

And finally is 77 ° ok 26,7 °c for discus

speeddemons004 - 7 years ago

Thanks

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+speeddemons004, I typically do water changes 1-2 times per week, but it's gone several weeks without a water change in the past when I've been out of the country without problems. A lot of it comes down to preference and water quality, but this is always a topic with tons of opinions. Some people make daily or every-other-day water changes, but this is often done in aquariums with no plants and minimum filtration or with juvenile discus which require impeccable water quality. In an established aquarium with good filtration and adult discus, I would say once a week on average is fine. Hope that helps!

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

Fantastic video. Thanks you very much. I'm currently looking at a used tank that is 48x18x21 (about 78 gallons). Is 21" tall enough for discus?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

I bought my first beef heart mix from Hans to help with the transition and they started eating within 24 hours, but it is not unusual for them to take 3-7 days to start eating in a new environment. Sorry again for the late reply!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Sorry, I didn't see these comments until now! Your tank looks awesome, congrats!

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

One extra question - when you got your discus from Hans, how long did it take them to acclimate and start eating on a regular schedule? I've had mine for a few days now and have tried Cobalt flakes, Al's Discus Chow, and Al's FD blackworms, but they really don't seem interested in any of that.

I know Hans uses a beef heart mix, so they're probably not even aware that this stuff is food, and I also get that they're adjusting to the new tank, but I was just curious about your experience with yours.

Thanks!

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

At long last, my order from Hans has been placed and my discus will arrive next Tuesday. I've posted some pics of my tank here: http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?129795-Fishless-Cycle-Almost-Complete-Last-Questions-Before-Ordering-From-Hans

Thanks again for this video. It was an excellent start for my journey. Hope your discus are still doing well!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

No problem. I've never had slurping noises. If it's really quiet in the room, you can sometimes hear the water dripping into the sock, but it hasn't been anything too noisy. Like you said above, my pump has to be restricted to keep from running the sump dry, so there's no restriction on the drain side. This may be why I haven't had issues with slurping noises.

The way my sump is set up keeps the tank from overflowing even if the drain is plugged. The water on the pump side can all go into the tank and while it gets close to the top, it does not overflow. I've actually been out of the country for 2 weeks at a time without issues. I have a neighbor add a little water to the tank every day or two to replace evaporation, but otherwise the fish and tank do well even for that length of time.

I agree on waiting for your new pump and then see what adjustments need to be made. Sounds like a solid setup!

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

Me again - I have another plumbing question for you. I noticed that (a) you don't have a valve on your 1" drain down to your sump, and (b) you didn't use any sort of overflow box. How have you been able to avoid any slurping noises on that drain line without the ability to moderate the flow? I've got mine running right now, but I installed a valve on the drain line and have to have it 3/4 closed to avoid the slurping. Admittedly, part of my problem is that I didn't get a return pump that was strong enough to keep up with the drain (Sicce 5.0 on the way), but if I were to do it again I would probably use an overflow box so that I could use a different draining setup (most likely Herbie style).

Additionally, you also don't have an emergency drain on that drain line. How do you sleep at night (or go on extended trips) without worrying about flooding? I've been pretty worried about mine right now (just got the drain to the right level so that if the pump/power goes out it won't flood - backflow valve installed on return line), and am thinking I might have to take it down and re-drill my drain hole for the Eshopps overflow box, but I think I'll wait and see what happens when the better pump gets here and I can see what happens when I open the valve all the way...

Thanks again for your insights!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Ya, it takes a while, but is worth it in the end! I typically buy my plants from www.aquariumplants.com. They are very reliable and have good information on plants that will do well in discus setups with higher water temps and soft, acidic water.

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

Will do! I will obviously have to cycle the tank, plant my plants, and get that biological filter up and running before I invest in the discus themselves, but we're getting there! Can finally get all this equipment out of my garage too... :P

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Sounds good, you're almost there! I put some root tabs in when I first placed the plants to help them get established, but I haven't used them since. I use Seachem Flourish and Excel and dose them as recommended on the bottle. It seems to work well and the plants have thrived since I put them in. Message me a picture of your tank when you get it up and running, I'd like to see it! https://www.facebook.com/adamchick29

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

I'm nearing the end here - I got the tank, have repainted the stand, replaced all of the hinges, drilled my bulkheads, verified that they're not leaking, and am ready to finish plumbing. I went with the Fluval FX4 and the RS100 sump, so we should have pretty good filtration.

My next question is about your plants - did you add anything to the sand substrate you used, or do you use any additives (e.g., flourish)? One thing I haven't done before is maintain a planted tank, so if you had any pointers along those lines I'd love to hear them. Oh yes - I will be adding a CO2 setup using an in-line atomizer on the return from the sump (I assume that the water coming out of there will be adequately filtered so not to cause problems - it will be easier to connect that to the 3/4" line on the return rather than the 1" lines from the Fluval). Thanks!!!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

No problem, I used Aquatek parts to set it up (http://aquatek-california.com) and picked up a tank from a local welding supply store.

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

One more question - sorry. In another comment below you mentioned that you've since added a CO2 system for your plants. Which one did you end up going with?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

No problem, glad I can help! I bought them black from a local fish store because I knew I was going to have a black background, but even if I were to change backgrounds, I would probably have used black. In my opinion, black looks best for most setups (but this is purely a personal preference). The drain has a plastic slit cover to it. You can find most of the supplies I used, or similar, on Dr. Foster's site (www.drsfostersmith.com). The bulkheads are threaded, but I did use an aquarium-safe silicon to help make sure they stay watertight (this is optional though). It is a flexible PVC that came with the Eshopps sump. I used silicon at the aquarium end, but not at the sump end. And you are correct, the top of the drain is where you want your water level to be. The water level is usually a touch higher than the drain because it pours into it. Double and triple check your drain placement before you drill. You don't want to cut the hole only to find it's a little too low or high. Hope that helps and let me know how it goes!

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

Thank you for the replies. You have been an awesome resource in this process, so thank you so much. I've done a ton of reading on aquarium plumbing, and while lots of people swear by these boxes I like the simplicity of your setup. Not only is it more aesthetically pleasing (it is to me at least - simpler is better - the fish should be the focus!), it's also cheaper since I can just get the Eshopps diamond drill set ($40) to drill the drain and return holes, install bulkheads ($10?), and then pvc. The Eclipse M itself is $100, and includes the 60-mm drill bit, but doesn't have a bit for the return...not too helpful, imo.

I'm also curious about the pipe you used. Did you paint your pvc black to match your background? And do you have some sort of housing or cover for the 90-degree elbow drain? And finally, did you cement your pvc to the bulkheads or are they threaded? It looks like you used flexible PVC on the backside down to the sump (which I like - less elbows, etc.) - is this also cemented? I can't tell - it looks like it just slips on to your drain. And this may be obvious, but I assume that the top of the 90-degree elbow drain should be where you want the water level in the aquarium to be, correct? And this will dictate where the hole for the bulkhead should be drilled? The Eshopps drill set includes a 60-mm bit for the drain, which will allow the installation of a 1.5" bulkhead, which should (theoretically) allow a drainage of up to 900 GPH. So depending on the pump I choose we might get close to 800 GPH. I'm still looking at pumps... Thanks again!!!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

I'm under the 500 GPH mark for the reasons you mentioned above. Your calculations look right to me. You may have to settle for a lower GPH than 800. You will be able to achieve a balance once everything is set up and you have the valve on the pump side. To give you an idea, if I open my valve all the way on the pump side and allow it to max out on the flow, the drain is unable to keep up (it's actually not even close). I have to slow the flow from my pump with the valve to find an equilibrium between the two.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Generally speaking, a drilled tank is better than an overflow box in both performance and aesthetics. They tend to be quieter and safer. There is a higher risk of flooding from an overflow box and depending on the setup, they can take up quite a bit of space. That being said, if you can't find someone to drill your aquarium and prefer not to give it a try on your own, an overflow box is a decent alternative. If you go with an overflow box, I think the Eclipse M is a good choice. The setup I have has worked well. I used an aquarium silicone to be extra safe even though it didn't require it. I feel it's pretty quiet. The only noise I have noticed is where the water drains into the sock in the refugium.

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

Here's another question: I noticed that you didn't use an overflow box. Was there a reason for that? I've got my tank and couldn't find a LFS that was willing to drill, so looks like I'm going to be on my own in that department, so I'm trying to see if I shouldn't use something like the EShopps Eclipse M. Looks like you just used PVC with a 90-degree elbow instead of a box - is that working for you? I'm wondering if there wouldn't be any noise as the water gets drawn into your drain line?

Also, with the 2600 I'm wondering if you're really achieving the 500 GPH, given the amount of vertical tubing you have plus the elbows and UV filter, and valve in that line. I'm trying to get as close to 800 GPH in my tank, so will most likely have to get either the pump rated for 977 or 1056 GPH, since I will also have about 4' of vertical line, the UV filter (2 90-degree turns plus the filter itself), the valve, and then a 90-degree turn into the tank = 4+1+1+.5 = 6.5 of head pressure. The 1056 is rated for 11 ft, so with all of those elements we're looking at over a 59% reduction in flow, so about 432 GPH (unless my math is wrong: used this resource http://www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2011/09/head-pressure-in-aquarium-and-pond.html). So I might even need a stronger pump to get close to 800GPH (which is, incidentally, what the Eclipse M is rated for, so maybe want to shoot for less than that).

Discus101 - 7 years ago

I'm not positive how many gallons my refugium is. It's basically the Eshopps R-100 (http://www.eshopps.com/products/filters/refugium/r100/) and rated for an aquarium of 75-125 gallons. I would think a similar size refugium would work well for your setup, especially if you add a canister filter.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

The longer grass-like plants are Vallisneria. The big plant behind the rocks is an Amazon Sword. There are also some Cryptocoryne wendtii and Java Fern. I try to stick to plants that do well in warm water. If you go to www.aquariumplants.com, they have a section on warm water/discus plants that can help you find some good choices. One option for water changes is storing a container of prepared water that is oxygenated and heated. After siphoning the aquarium with a siphon/hose combo (for example: https://www.chewy.com/python-no-spill-clean-fill-aquarium/dp/133615?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Python&utm_term=&gclid=CNzMvtne_9ICFQe2wAodvf0JDQ&gclsrc=aw.ds) that attaches to a sink, you then fill the aquarium using a pump and hose from the storage container. Depending on how complicated you want to get, you can either fill the storage container manually or use float valves and hoses to fill it automatically. I store my r/o water in a container in our laundry room (much to my wife's chagrin). As I'm only changing 20 gallons at a time currently, this setup works fine for me. I actually mix hot tap water with the room temp r/o water to get the temp about right to add to the aquarium. This works well for me, but takes practice to get it right. I'm considering putting in a much larger aquarium in our basement. If I do this, my entire setup will have to change for some of the reasons you mentioned above.

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

And I thought of another one - what was the size of your refugium setup? The more I read, the more I like your idea of doubling up the filtration with the canister + refugium setup. For an 80 gallon tank shouldn't I be looking for something around 30 gallons or so?

rightwinger59 - 7 years ago

I had a few more follow-up questions for you, if you don't mind. First, which plants did you use inside the aquarium? I think your choices look great and really don't detract from your fish (or encourage them to hide). And second, do you have any tips for water changes? I like your setup if it only requires 50% every three days or so, but 40 gallons represents quite a few trips with a 5 gallon bucket and I'm thinking about setting this up in my new office. Any tips for handling those changes? And do you store your RO water somewhere? Thanks!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks! Generally speaking, the taller the better, but 21" should be fine. 78 gallons is a great size and would be perfect for 6-8 adult discus.

Pa. Fish Preacher - 7 years ago

Sweet Looking Tank, My questions are 1- How many discus should one keep together? ; 2. How long was your tank up/running before you added your discus? ; 3. Did you add all 6 at the same time?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks! I would keep no fewer than 5-6 together. Less than that and aggression may become an issue. Form there, it depends on tank size. For a rough estimate, you can typically keep 1 discus/10 gallons. If I remember correctly, my tank was up for about 4 months before adding discus. I had Corys and Neons in the tank for several months before adding the discus as well. Obviously, it's important to watch your water parameters very closely after adding fish to make sure the tank is not stressed. I actually added them in groups of 3 about 1-2 weeks apart. It was probably overly cautious, but I wanted to see how the tank would handle the additional fish. Stendker discus are not cheap and I wanted to make sure nothing would go wrong. Most people would probably say to put the 6 in at the same time. Hope that helps!

Hello There - 7 years ago

refuuuugeeum

sathyan p - 7 years ago

Did you notice any peppering on the discus due to the black back ground?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+sathyan p No peppering at all on the cobalt and the leopard. A small amount of peppering on the fire red. I bought them at 4" and they are probably 5.5" in the video.

sathyan p - 7 years ago

Discus101 I am planning to get fire red ,leapord and blue diamond from Hans. Did you notice any peppering on it? And are those 5" or jumbo? Thanks

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+sathyan p There was a little peppering to the checkerboard and blue pigeon blood, but not too bad.

luan nguyen - 7 years ago

How would you do the water changing for the tank without stressing the discus?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

I still use a siphon method to help get debris and waste up from the gravel. The discus get used to it and usually just go to one side or the other while I clean. The process doesn't take long and shouldn't stress them too much. When I add water to the tank, I dump it in with a bucket and use my free hand to keep help keep it from stirring up the tank.

luan nguyen - 7 years ago

Can i use hanging filter for the discus tank?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

You can use it, but a refugium setup would be preferred. The goal is to create as stable an environment as possible for the fish and a refugium helps this the best. That being said, a HOB filter would be fine. I would just use a larger filter than recommended for your aquarium size.

Njs 941 - 7 years ago

What is the smallest size I can have for 2 discus.Is it 29 gallons or more?

Ian Mc Mahon - 7 years ago

Hi man, great video. I have a 45 gallon tank and I'm thinking of getting few discus. How many can I but in do you think?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

No problem!

Njs 941 - 7 years ago

Discus101 Thank you

Discus101 - 7 years ago

The smallest tank I would recommend for discus is around 50 gallons. They are fairly large aquarium fish and can become quite cramped in tanks smaller than that. In addition, you should really keep a minimum of 5 discus in an aquarium to help with aggression. Keep in mind while they are thought of as "peaceful" fish, discus are from the cichlid family and can exhibit aggressive behavior toward one another. By keeping groups of 5 or more, the aggression is much less likely to be problematic.

1000 Angels Feeding Zoe - 7 years ago

Omaha! North Platte here I'm breeding Angels and thinking about stepping up into Discus. :)

1000 Angels Feeding Zoe - 7 years ago

+Discus101 looking into it.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

You should go for it! I think you'd really enjoy it if you like Angels.

Sudz - 7 years ago

Probably too late to the party to get a response: but are those pidgeon blood lineage in there? how come they're not turning black with the black background?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+Sudz Ya, the bright red and white one is a checkerboard, which is a variant of pigeon blood. The orange/red and white one is a blue pigeon blood. The pure red one is a fire red, which is a strain of marlboro's, I believe. The background doesn't seem to affect the fish color much, perhaps because the lighting is pretty bright. I like simple backgrounds that make the fish pop. It seems to look better in person than on video because the reflection in the background is more pronounced on video. Hope that helps!

Sukumar Patel - 7 years ago

Lovely tank there!
I plan to get a 99litre (approx 26gallon) tank(Boyu EA-60) that measures 24 inches by 15 inches and 26 inches high.
Which filter should I choose? Eheim Classic 250 (440L/hr) or Eheim classic 350(620L/HR)
I know its small, but that's the maximum space I have for the tank.

How you you recommend stocking Discus in the tank? I plan to have 3-4 Discus with around 15 neon tetras.

Whats your view?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Glad I could help! Enjoy the new tank!

Sukumar Patel - 7 years ago

Discus101 Thanks for the tips. I went ahead and have booked a 40 gallon, 150L tank. It will arrive early next week.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

A typical rule of thumb is to stock 1 discus per 10 gallons of water and most people would recommend no fewer than 5 discus in an aquarium, which would make a minimum tank size of 50 gallons. If you don't have enough room for an aquarium of that size, I would encourage you to choose fish that are smaller in size than discus. Adult discus can grow to upwards of 8" and would really struggle in a 20-30 gallon setup. That being said, if you really want to try discus in that aquarium, I would probably go with 4 to help disperse aggression. I would then stick to around 10 neons. If possible, as the fish mature and grow, you should really try to make room for a 50-60 gallon aquarium which will allow for proper development. As for the filter choices, I would go with the 350 only because the tank would be over-stocked and it's almost never wrong to go with more filtration. Hope that helps!

Desmond Barnes - 7 years ago

thanks for your help again. I just got my discus acclimated and they're in the tank. Looks like they're doing fine.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

No problem! Glad to hear they're doing well!

Gabriel Bernal - 7 years ago

whats your tank's height? like in inches or ft? can you tell me pls. thank you.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

24" high (48" long and 13" deep)

Desmond Barnes - 7 years ago

thank you for your reply.

50. comment for How to Set Up a Discus Aquarium (Filtration, Water Chemistry, and More)

Desmond Barnes - 7 years ago

great video. Real nice fish. Can you tell me how you acclimate your discus?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks! My discus were shipped overnight from Baltimore. I placed the unopened bags in the aquarium for about 10 minutes. I then opened them and added a small amount aquarium water to each bag (about 1 cup) every 5 minutes. I believe I repeated this 5-6 times and then used a net to move the fish from the bag to the aquarium. Make sure not to dump the water from the transport bag directly into the aquarium!

reef guy 92 - 7 years ago

I'm setting up discus real soon but I've bin reading alot! have I got to buy all my discus from one breeder or can I buy discus from different places? BTW ure tank is awesome

Discus101 - 7 years ago

No problem! Will do

reef guy 92 - 7 years ago

Discus101 thanks alot mate I've got a private breeder sorted and there discus are bred local and using tap water as I dnt have no rodi filter system so it's a win win for ☺ sub to my channel and soon as there all setup and settled in I'll do a video and thanks again mate.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks! Although it's not a must, I would probably buy from one breeder. The breeder can usually tell you the water parameters the discus were raised in. Stendker's, for example, are bred and raised in fairly neutral water (pH 7.0, gH 15, kH 8, Temp 29-30 degrees C). This will allow you the make the transition from breeder to your tank less stressful. Also, if you buy from one breeder and have problems, they may be able to better help you.

Michelle Rogers - 7 years ago

They are beautiful, I'm in awe!

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks!

M C - 7 years ago

what do you mean by RO water. I'm actually in North Platte myself.

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Reverse Osmosis Water. It's water that has been passed through a semi-permeable membrane to remove many different particles found in tap water (or other sources). It's used in some discus setups to help soften the water by reducing the amount of gH and kH. The amount of RO water needed will depend on the water parameters of your local water. In areas of the country where the tap water is already soft and has a neutral or slightly acidic pH, hobbyists may not need to worry about RO water. Omaha's water supply is very hard and alkaline which is why I have to use some of it. However, it's important to note that you should never use pure RO water as your only source of aquarium water. Without any buffer, pure RO water would leave an aquarium susceptible to a pH crash. There are several ways to deal with this, but I find that mixing my tap water with RO water (about 25-30% RO water) gives me the right parameters for my setup.

mohammad saif - 7 years ago

Can you please tell me the tank dimensions .

Discus101 - 7 years ago

No problem!

mohammad saif - 7 years ago

Thanks ☺

Discus101 - 7 years ago

48" long x 13" deep x 24" tall (122 x 33 x 61 cm)

Water Bottle Flips - 7 years ago

Oh I just came over I'm your neighbor

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Haha... I guessed that after you stopped by!

Water Bottle Flips - 7 years ago

Is your name Adam?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Yes

Fadds - 7 years ago

Amazing, this day and age people still use gallons

Peter Shannon - 7 years ago

Thanks for the information, one last thing...how big were the discus when you got them, 4+ inches?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

No problem! I bought them at 4".

Peter Shannon - 7 years ago

nice tank, when you added fish to the tank did you add all 6 discus at the same time? I have a 66 gallon tank, how should I stock the tank, all at once? or 2 at a time?
thks

Discus101 - 7 years ago

Thanks! I added the discus in 2 groups of 3 fish. There had already been Corys and Neons in the tank for several months prior to adding the discus, but I decided to put 3 in to start and add the second group of 3 about 2-3 weeks later. This allowed me to watch my water quality for signs of trouble after adding the first 3 discus. Some people would tell you that only adding 3 discus at a time may lead to one of the discus being singled out and picked on (obviously, the more fish in the aquarium, the more the aggression is distributed and the less chance a single fish has of being harmed), but as long as you plan on reaching a total of 5-6 discus within 3-4 weeks, I don't believe the aggression problem will be that big of a deal. It certainly wasn't for me. However, I would start with 3 so there is at least a little dispersion of the aggression. Only adding 3 at a time may be overly cautious, but when spending the kind of money that Stendker discus cost, I'd rather watch my water quality closely and put less stress on the tank while it adjusts. Just my two cents... Hope that helps!

Phil Morello - 7 years ago

Hi, I have a 180Litre tank 90cm x 45cm x 45cm, is this big enough to start with discus, I currently have it setup with 4 angels and some neon tetras but am contemplating swapping over the angels for 4 discus? Would this work?

Discus101 - 7 years ago

+Phil Morello That's right on the limits for keeping discus. Most people would probably tell you that 55 gallons (about 200 L) is the smallest size to start keeping discus, but you can probably get away with it at your size. With 4 discus, you may also run into problems with aggression. Discus can pick on each other, they are from the cichlid family after all ;) and fewer numbers doesn't allow for the bullying to be spread out. A general rule of thumb is to keep a minimum of 6 discus (but I would not do that in your size aquarium). That being said, as long as you go into knowing this may be a problem, you can decide whether you want to try or not. If you decide to try it, make sure your filtration and water parameters are compatible for discus. Hope that helps!

Aquarismo - 8 years ago

a beautiful aquarium, I liked a lot, thank you for sharing, I Subbed, visit my first aquarium, and give me your opinion

Aquarismo - 8 years ago

i subbed

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks!

george poyiatzi - 8 years ago

yes i have anupias only. I want to ask you hoe many discus i can have in my tank? its 240lt

Discus101 - 8 years ago

No problem! Ya, my FB account is: https://www.facebook.com/adamchick29

george poyiatzi - 8 years ago

Discus101 thanks for everything your advice is very important for me. Are you on Facebook?

Discus101 - 8 years ago

+george poyiatzi Between plants in your sump and tank, you should be fine. I would keep 5-6 adult discus in a 240 L tank. If you have more than 6 it will start to get crowded.

george poyiatzi - 8 years ago

awesome info thanks for everything. I made a custom made tank 240lt with inside sump and a canister filter eheim 2215 with uv light. In the tank do i need an air stone pump i am beginner with discus

Discus101 - 8 years ago

+george poyiatzi Thanks for the comment! With live plants in the sump you shouldn't need an air stone. I would leave the light on in the sump 24 hours/day to help keep the environment in the tank as stable as possible. Are you keeping live plants in the tank as well?

george poyiatzi - 8 years ago

awesome info thanks for everything. I made a custom made tank 240lt with inside sump and a canister filter eheim 2215 with uv light. In the tank do i need an air stone pump i am beginner with discus

vel M - 8 years ago

hey can you please tell what kind of lighting you use ? am very confused between marlboro red and fire red.. do u which has more brighter red? and also l like the solid turquoise but from lot of videos some look so pale in colour.. i like the green reflection but i cant get a clear picture before i order. please help. Thanks a lot. You have a beautiful set up!

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks for the comment! I use a 48" Finnex Planted+ 24/7 LED Light and 48" Finnex Monster Ray LED Light. The Monster Ray is more of an optional light, but helps enhance the color of the plants, driftwood and fish. The Fire Red will likely have a brighter red color. They also tend to be more solid red. Marlboro's often have white markings on their face and fins. If you're looking for a stunning red discus, I would go with the Fire Red. If you use a Monster Ray in addition to other lighting, the red will really pop! As for a turquoise colored discus, it depends on preference. If you really want a greenish tint, I would go with a Flachen. If you prefer Blue, you'll have to choose between a Blue Diamond and Cobalt. Cobalt's will usually show a hint of vertical lines whereas Blue Diamonds should be solid in color. In the end it's all personal preference. Just keep in mind like each dog breed, some variance is to be expected. In other words, not all Cobalts will look the same. Some will have more markings, some less. Some deeper blue than others. If you're like me, the strain you think you'll like the most will change after you get them and allow the fish to mature. Hope that helps!

Bom Khati - 8 years ago

Awesome tank thank you so much for info :) :)

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks for the comment! Glad it helped!

Joseph Karthic - 8 years ago

i have a 67 gallon tank..is it ok to put two large sponge filters for 6 discus? or should i buy canister?

Discus101 - 8 years ago

I prefer canister filters if you're planning on a planted aquarium, but if you're going with a bare bottom the sponge filters will likely work well. Watch the fish closely for signs of stress and monitor your water parameters to make sure the environment is stable.

Kyle Raines - 8 years ago

Great info! I'm getting ready to set up my 85gal discus tank

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks! Congrats on the new tank! Take plenty of time with the setup to get it just the way you want and it will provide you years of enjoyment!

Riska Utomo - 8 years ago

nice tank bro...!!

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks!

Dan Wiles - 8 years ago

Can you set up a discus tank with a decent external filter? Or is a sump etc essential? Thanks

Discus101 - 8 years ago

You can use a good external filter for a discus tank. A lot of good discus tanks use a refugium to provide the most natural filtration and stable environment, but a properly maintained external filter can work as well.

Life by Brian - 8 years ago

Holy crap, keeping discus in the US is expensive! I set up a 65 gallon tank with six discus here in china, and spent less than $100 including all the fish. Granted, I did DIY lighting, free substrate and just a simple sponge filter, but still. Anyway, great info here, and the fish look excellent. Thanks!

Discus101 - 8 years ago

No problem! Good luck on the move and thanks again for the comment!

Life by Brian - 8 years ago

Sure, thanks for the response! I am planning on moving back to the US eventually. Setting up a new discus tank seem daunting because of the pricing. I got my tank second hand for like $15, the lighting cost me about $10. My discus range between 3.5 and 5.5 inches, not precisely sure as I haven't measured them. They were a half inch or so smaller when I bought them, and cost about $60 for the group of six, but one of them has bad genetics. It's stunted and has a twisted mouth so it can't eat very well. It's a San Merah I think (all reddish orange), so it looks like a football. Poor thing. The Chinese are not the best for animal welfare. the tank I bought them out of was way overstocked. It's getting a bit bigger, but I don't think it will ever achieve full potential since it only succeed on eating about 1/3 of the things it tries to bite. Okay...rambling now. Thanks again~

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks for the comment! There are many ways to set up a discus aquarium, some cheaper than others. The DIY project and sponge filter certainly save a bunch of money, but as the discus get older I think the refugium setup provides a more stable environment. In the US you would be hard pressed to find quality discus in the 4" size for less than $100 each. There are used aquariums out there that can be purchased cheap, but a new 60 gallon aquarium in the US will run you $150-200 (not including substrate, filters, etc.). Thanks again for the comment!

PBK - 8 years ago

Great video! Just bought my first two discus from Hans! Also live in Omaha out west by the way. I have added my discus to a 120 gallon community tank. With all tap water, tank runs 7.8 (only because I am diligent about water changes or it might be much lower). I keep it pristine with nitrates well under 20. It's not planted, but decorated sand/blackwater style with tons of driftwood and tannins. At the moment, I use less RO than you mentioned at this point but would appreciate any feedback since you also use MUD water. Fish seem fine with just a touch of RO and mostly relying on tannins. Experienced with tanks, newer to discus.

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks for the comment! I've actually cut back on the RO water some and use about 30% RO with 70% tap. This gives me a KH of around 4 in my tank. I've also added pressurized CO2 since this video was made. Given the KH level and goal CO2 level, my pH sits around 6.7-6.8 (I use a pH monitor to help keep my pH and CO2 stable). The nice thing about discus from Hans is they are raised in a pH 7.0 and tolerate a fairly wide range of water parameters.

Andrew Star life - 8 years ago

your fish look great, what do you feed them? also check out my tank https://youtu.be/vvSwEwt2gO8

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks! I feed them a couple cubes of beef heart a day and 1 cube of bloodworms. They also get a little brine shrimp once in a while. I use both a homemade beef heart mix and a commercial product from San Francisco Bay Brand.

lumpy1space2princess - 8 years ago

I got a well cycled 60 gallon.

I want to put:
6 Corydoras
15-20 Cardinal Tetras
2 Discus
4 Rams

Will this work? Or is it too overstocked?

Discus101 - 8 years ago

There's a general rule of 1 discus per 10 gallons, but it often depends on the setup. I have 6 in my 60 gallon and definitely wouldn't put more in than that. 5-6 seems reasonable for a 60 gallon. I have about 15 neons and 4 corys in my tank. You may want to read a little more on rams. I've never kept them, but I know some people have issues with aggression (rams chasing discus).

As for plants, I would encourage you to use live plants to help not only with water quality, but also to make the tank environment as natural as possible for the Discus.

lumpy1space2princess - 8 years ago

+Discus101 Okay. I remember reading something about 10 gallons per adult discus.

With the stocking list you suggested, could I add plants?

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Although the number of fish would probably be ok for a well-cycled 60 gallon, I would recommend increasing the number of discus and decreasing some of the other fish to help with aggression. Discus have a reputation of being very peaceful, but they are still cichlids and can actually be quite aggressive towards each other. I would put a minimum of 4 discus in the aquarium with 5-6 preferred. You could add 3 Rams, 10-15 Cardinals and 4-5 Corys as well. Although this would be overstocked, I think it would work quite well with plenty of filtration and regular water changes.

Brian's Opinion/Comments - 8 years ago

Great looking fish

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks!

Chode - 8 years ago

Hey man! Great video. Great info, great display, beautiful and healthy fish and all of that under 10 minutes. PERFECT. I really badly want a discus. I already have 2 freshwater aquariums and I think I'll be able to take on the challenge of looking after discus. The only thing that discourages me is the price. Are they really worth it? I found some cheap baby discuses in Melbourne (where I live) but they don't look as round and as nice as the expensive ones. What would you recommend?

Jeff Cummings - 8 years ago

Dank Memovich

Dogmeng - 8 years ago

juvenile discuss are not round, when they get bigger, thats when you will know they are round or football shape. You need to be careful with juvies too because you cant really tell yet if their growth is stunted, their are signs like eyes are too big, head is too thing,fish is not aggressive, fins are always kept. it took me months to decide to buy a discus, so I started with 4, and so far, im getting the hang on the maintenance and feeding them 3 full meals a day.

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks for the comment! I would encourage you to spend the extra money to obtain discus from a well-respected breeder. Although it is more money up front, you will know you are getting quality fish that, if kept in proper conditions, will provide years of enjoyment. I have an African cichlid aquarium and Southeast Asian aquarium as well and can tell you that my discus tank is hands down my favorite. So for me, it is worth the extra cost and time commitment to keep the fish. From what you described, my only caution to you would be that juvenile discus typically require more water changes and stricter control of water parameters than adults. Thus, they can be a little more "fragile." You may want to look to see if some of your local breeders offer fish in the 4" range as they will likely be hardier and easier to keep if it's your first time (although more expensive). Not something that's a must, just a suggestion.

Chode - 8 years ago

I meant under 20 minutes. My bad. Good luck with your fish keeping

Salvador Diones - 8 years ago

One of the best presentation I've seen. How do you keep the same Ph level? How and what do you use to feed the Discus?

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks! My pH level fluctuates some, from about 6.7-7.1. Frequent water changes help keep it stable. The pH starts out around 7.1 after the water change and slowly drops to 6.7-6.8 before the next change. When I'm out of town, I leave a bucket of dechlorinated tap water by the tank and a neighbor feeds the fish and puts 2 glasses of the tap water in per day. My tap water is alkaline, so this adds a small amount of buffer each day to help keep the water stable while I'm gone. I feed them a combination of blood worms, beef heart and brine shrimp (mostly beef heart). They usually get fed twice/day and do well. I need to make a new batch of beef heart soon, so I'll try to make a video of the recipe and add it to my channel. Hope that helps!

Thai Aquascapes - 8 years ago

Great looking tank! I have discuss as well! Subbed

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks!

teacherm96 - 8 years ago

One of the best videos about discus I have seen. Very real, true and honest the 60 gallon is good.

Thanks

Discus101 - 8 years ago

Thanks for the kind words!

Involved Spirit - 8 years ago

Which products do you feed them and are you using any trace minerals after water changes? I do my own beef heart mix using an online recipe but it's too messy

Discus101 - 8 years ago

+Involved Spirit Thanks! When the light is on "daylight" mode they are always that active. They slow down once it is on "night" mode. I'll try to take a few close ups of each of the discus when I get a chance and post it.

Involved Spirit - 8 years ago

+Discus101 Wow! Are they always this active or only when it's time for food? Would be great to see more videos, your tank is beautiful.

Discus101 - 8 years ago

+Involved Spirit I bought them at 3-4 inches and they are now about 6 inches (the Cobalt is smaller). I watch my pH much closer than my Gh/Kh. I measure my harness and alkalinity with test strips so they're not as accurate, but my tank sits at 7-8 (Gh) and 5 (Kh).

Involved Spirit - 8 years ago

+Discus101 Thank you, I agree about the blood worms. Did you purchase your discus smaller? What is your Gh and Kh after adding the RO water?

Discus101 - 8 years ago

+Involved Spirit I use Flourish by Seachem for the plants, adding it to the water twice a week.

Discus101 - 8 years ago

+Involved Spirit I use a variety of foods, including beefheart, blood worms and brine shrimp. I feel that offering a different foods helps with the color and growth of the fish. Beefheart is the best option and is definitely a mess, but I would still recommend feeding it to them daily. Discus love blood worms, but they are not nearly a nutritional and their growth can be stunted if it's all they are fed. I look at blood worms as more like a treat/snack than a meal. Hope that helps!

Involved Spirit - 8 years ago

Awesome tank thank you so much for this

Discus101 - 8 years ago

+Involved Spirit Thanks! I'm glad it was helpful.

Kassie Chick - 8 years ago

Thanks for all the good information!

Discus101 - 8 years ago

+Kassie Parr Thanks!

About How to Set Up a Discus Aquarium (Filtration, Water Chemistry, and More)

The "How to Set Up a Discus Aquarium (Filtration, Water Chemistry, and More)" video is part of the discous aquarium category, which contains similar videos like this one.