An introduction to Discus: Part I - Page 4 - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

Luca · 08-02-2006, 09:38 AM

Hi Thunder, UGF isn't recommended for planted tanks because the roots get caught up in it (trust me I know from experience!). I recommend a HOB (hang on the back) filter. Cut a hole in a sponge and slip it over the intake, this is a prefilter, very easy to slip off and rinse, keeps the water conditions top notches, especially when combined with daily water changes.

If you want you can do weekly water changes, have gravel, and have cories. It's up to you, but you won't get huge show quality discus. They'll still be happy. I'm not familiar with raphaels sorry someone else might be able to help. Cories are great at cleaning up. In the wild discus do live with other fish, so this is natural too.

Cheers

THUNDER · 08-02-2006, 09:51 AM

Luca, I did a post about Striped Raphaels. I love having them. I currently have 2 and they are growing. Yeah, no UGF for the Discus. I will use the HOB Emperor 400 and possibly a canister too. When I put the sponge in the intake tube, how much far down should i insert it? How often should I clean it or replace it? I wonder if the filter will suck up the sponge to the rotating parts.

I'm not setting anything up now. I am learning first, before I start anything. It will take me a while to get it all set up, unless I choose to temporary work the full time hours at HellMart.

Luca, do you know Bill? lmao

Thunder

Pure · 08-02-2006, 10:00 AM

Striped Raphaels actually look to be a good tank mate for discus. So are zebra plecos.

IMHO I wouldn't put a prefilter sponge on the HOB. It will prevent the HOB from pulling most of the gunk from the tank into the filter. And IME it's next to impossible to remove these without having a cloud of crap knocked loose into your water. It's much easier to allow the filter to do it's job and pull the detritus into the filter. The filter can then be turned off for cleanings helping to keep the waste out of your water.

No the filter won't suck up the sponge. They are normally made out of plastic and rarely fall apart.

THUNDER · 08-02-2006, 10:03 AM

What is IMHO and IME?

Thunder

Pure · 08-02-2006, 10:12 AM

In My Humble Opinion, and In My Experience.

sweetpickles7 · 04-08-2007, 08:03 PM

Are there any dwarf species of discus, if so what are they named?

Cichlid-Man · 04-08-2007, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpickles7

Are there any dwarf species of discus, if so what are they named?

No, unless they are stunted from bad living conditions.

wfdfirefighter · 04-09-2007, 11:42 PM

I made the mistake of showing my wife a discus and she immediatly decided that we needed it for "our" tank. Now when i go to my LFS she immediatly looks for the discus. The first one she purchased is about 4" and is basically orange with electric blue markings on the body which come and go depending on the orientation of the fish and very light vertical lines. The new one is about 2 1/2 inches and can't seem to decide if it wants to be blue, green or grey. It is supposed to be an ocean green variant. The currently reside in a 95 gallon wave tank with moderate planting and a host of other denisons. I have a distinct feeiling that I am going to have to bring the 55 inside and set that up as a discus habitat. Oh yeah I'm hooked!

Cichlid-Man · 04-09-2007, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wfdfirefighter

I made the mistake of showing my wife a discus and she immediatly decided that we needed it for "our" tank. Now when i go to my LFS she immediatly looks for the discus. The first one she purchased is about 4" and is basically orange with electric blue markings on the body which come and go depending on the orientation of the fish and very light vertical lines. The new one is about 2 1/2 inches and can't seem to decide if it wants to be blue, green or grey. It is supposed to be an ocean green variant. The currently reside in a 95 gallon wave tank with moderate planting and a host of other denisons. I have a distinct feeiling that I am going to have to bring the 55 inside and set that up as a discus habitat. Oh yeah I'm hooked!

Haha nice, thats how it goes. I finally broke the discus addiction....well the cost broke me.

But i hope to return to keeping them day later on in my life.

shorty · 04-16-2007, 10:53 AM

i have three discus. can anyone tell me why one of them is so timid and just hides away in the corner all day every day when the others, even the newest bought one is perfectly happy to be swimming around the tank. Would you suggest getting anothr one perhaps?

08-02-2006, 09:38 AM	#31 (permalink)
Luca Medium Fish Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Middle Earth (New Zealand) Posts: 542	Hi Thunder, UGF isn't recommended for planted tanks because the roots get caught up in it (trust me I know from experience!). I recommend a HOB (hang on the back) filter. Cut a hole in a sponge and slip it over the intake, this is a prefilter, very easy to slip off and rinse, keeps the water conditions top notches, especially when combined with daily water changes. If you want you can do weekly water changes, have gravel, and have cories. It's up to you, but you won't get huge show quality discus. They'll still be happy. I'm not familiar with raphaels sorry someone else might be able to help. Cories are great at cleaning up. In the wild discus do live with other fish, so this is natural too. Cheers __________________ I did not have sexual relations with that woman

08-02-2006, 10:00 AM	#33 (permalink)
Pure Super Fish Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 3,216	Striped Raphaels actually look to be a good tank mate for discus. So are zebra plecos. IMHO I wouldn't put a prefilter sponge on the HOB. It will prevent the HOB from pulling most of the gunk from the tank into the filter. And IME it's next to impossible to remove these without having a cloud of crap knocked loose into your water. It's much easier to allow the filter to do it's job and pull the detritus into the filter. The filter can then be turned off for cleanings helping to keep the waste out of your water. No the filter won't suck up the sponge. They are normally made out of plastic and rarely fall apart. __________________ Yup, I've got tanks. http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/xyshannen/

08-02-2006, 10:12 AM	#35 (permalink)
Pure Super Fish Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 3,216	In My Humble Opinion, and In My Experience. __________________ Yup, I've got tanks. http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/xyshannen/

04-09-2007, 11:42 PM	#38 (permalink)
wfdfirefighter Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Guilderland, New York Posts: 15	A monster is born I made the mistake of showing my wife a discus and she immediatly decided that we needed it for "our" tank. Now when i go to my LFS she immediatly looks for the discus. The first one she purchased is about 4" and is basically orange with electric blue markings on the body which come and go depending on the orientation of the fish and very light vertical lines. The new one is about 2 1/2 inches and can't seem to decide if it wants to be blue, green or grey. It is supposed to be an ocean green variant. The currently reside in a 95 gallon wave tank with moderate planting and a host of other denisons. I have a distinct feeiling that I am going to have to bring the 55 inside and set that up as a discus habitat. Oh yeah I'm hooked!

08-02-2006, 09:51 AM	#32 (permalink)
THUNDER Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 567	Luca, I did a post about Striped Raphaels. I love having them. I currently have 2 and they are growing. Yeah, no UGF for the Discus. I will use the HOB Emperor 400 and possibly a canister too. When I put the sponge in the intake tube, how much far down should i insert it? How often should I clean it or replace it? I wonder if the filter will suck up the sponge to the rotating parts. I'm not setting anything up now. I am learning first, before I start anything. It will take me a while to get it all set up, unless I choose to temporary work the full time hours at HellMart. Luca, do you know Bill? lmao Thunder

08-02-2006, 10:03 AM	#34 (permalink)
THUNDER Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 567	What is IMHO and IME? Thunder

04-08-2007, 08:03 PM	#36 (permalink)
sweetpickles7 Super Fish Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,228	Are there any dwarf species of discus, if so what are they named?

04-16-2007, 10:53 AM	#40 (permalink)
shorty Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wales, uk Posts: 90	i have three discus. can anyone tell me why one of them is so timid and just hides away in the corner all day every day when the others, even the newest bought one is perfectly happy to be swimming around the tank. Would you suggest getting anothr one perhaps?