A south american tank for discus and other species

[bettaMagenta]

I've been dreaming of a Discus-only tank for ages, and I think I've found the perfect setup - a 250-gallon tank, roughly 6 feet by 30 inches by 30 inches. I'm thinking of starting with 3-5 Discus, maybe more.

For tankmates, I'm looking at bigger, peaceful fish that thrive in warmer temperatures and soft water. I was thinking 3-4 Angel fish or 3-4 Red Shoulder Severum's. A small school of Geos could work, and I'd love a fancy Pleco - a Royal would be amazing, but it'd get way too big in a 250-gallon tank.

I usually go for bright colors, but since my Discus will be a mix of yellow, orange, turquoise, and blue, I'm thinking of adding a school of active silver fish to balance it out. If the Severum's don't work out with the Discus or Angels, I could see swapping them out for a school of Tiger Stripe Silver dollars instead of a silver tetra.

Can you picture it? Any suggestions or substitutions would be great. The tank won't go online until next year, so I've got time to figure out the tankmates. I've already got the tank, but I still need to sort out the plumbing for frequent water changes, the filter system, and lighting. Thanks for any ideas.

[TankWarrior]

Hey Magnum, would love to see a pic of your setup sometime, really into larger tanks, always great to see how others design their spaces

[bettaMagenta]

It's standing upright in my garage, pics are in the big tank filter thread

[bettaMagenta]

I've got a full size appliance cart right next to it for reference, just like the kind you'd use to move a fridge. I'll try to get some better pics later this week, when I've got some time to spare.

[muddywave]

I found that build I mentioned earlier - it's actually a 125 gallon, but this guy really went all out, so I think you might still find some inspiration. This is the kind of setup I wish I had the skills to create - the guy's got total control from his phone and hardly has to lift a finger for maintenance.

[graye]

I'm a bit old-fashioned when it comes to Discus. To me, these fish demand specific conditions - warmth being a key one. They aren't exactly community fish, thriving in solitude. If you're setting up a Discus tank, it's best to keep it that way - just Discus. No tankmates.

[bettaMagenta]

I've been digging through fish profiles, trying to find some tank mates that share the same temperature range as Discus. Honestly, there aren't many that fit the bill. But, I did come across Rummy Nose Tetras, which seem to thrive in similar temperatures. A large school of those would be pretty cool, I think.

I've been browsing online for Discus tank mates, and it's kind of funny how often Corydoras get mentioned. From what I understand, they really aren't fans of warmer temperatures, though. Most of the fish that people pair with Discus seem to prefer lower temperatures, which is a bit confusing. It's like they're suggesting you keep the Discus on the cooler side, while the other fish are warmer than they'd like. That just seems like a recipe for an unhappy tank to me.

[bettaMagenta]

I came across a site that lists the preferred temperature range for various pleco types, and it's interesting to see that many of them match the Discus's range. The little King Tiger Plecos I love and have, for instance, share the same temp range as the Discus. Some other examples include the Zebra L-046, Peppermint L-31, and of course the King Tiger L-333. Then there's the Broken Line Royal L-191, Leopard Frog L-134, and Mango L-47. I'm sure there are more out there, and it's worth noting that the ones listed vary quite a bit in terms of size and diet.

[graye]

Many plecos, due to their diet, can produce a substantial amount of waste, which can be challenging to manage in a Discus tank that requires high water quality and cleanliness.

When considering tankmates for Discus, it's essential to think about temperature, water hardness, and disease exposure. A $500 wild-caught Discus can be killed by a virus from a $5 farmed tetra, which is a harsh reality. Water flow is also crucial, and while some people make Discus keeping out to be more complicated than it is, they are moderately hardy fish with needs similar to those of a Satanoperca. They won't tolerate neglect, but that's true for many fish.

I've never been a fan of some of the fancy color morphs, finding them quite unappealing, but that's just my personal taste, and I'm sure others will disagree.

[bettaMagenta]

I was just thinking about a Broken Line Royal (L-191) - a seller says up to 20 inches, which seems really likely in a 250 gallon tank... I can only imagine the mess it'd make. Cleaning up after that would be like picking up after a big dog - no filter I know of could handle that kind of waste. I'm worried it'd be tough to keep the water pristine for the Discus.

I'm back to thinking the King Tigers or Leopard Frog... they max out at about 4 inches, which is a lot more manageable. I've got 5 King Tigers in one tank right now, about 2 inches, and I've never seen them leave a mess. It's a big difference from a 20-inch pleco.