Stock Order.. opinions/advise please

[PureAddict]

I'm in the process of setting up my tank and it looks like I'm going with a pretty standard stock list:

Discus - not wild (almost finalized)
Corys (still deciding)
Tetras (still deciding)
Plecos (Albino Long fins)

My main concern is the order of stocking, specifically with Discus and Tetras. I'm thinking of adding the Tetras first, letting them settle in, and then introducing the Discus. Hopefully, this will reduce the chance of the Discus seeing the Tetras as a snack. Does the order of adding Corys and Plecos even matter? I'm guessing it does, but what do I know?

Thanks for any advice.

[sonyx]

Re: Stock Order.. opinions/advise please

To give you a more informed answer, I need a bit more info. What's the tank size? Is it bare bottom or planted? How many of each fish are you planning to keep? What's your water change routine like and how often do you plan to feed them? Also, what kind of filtration are you using? Things like that would be helpful to know.

[lunar]

Re: Stock Order.. opinions/advise please

Yeah, the original post was a bit vague. I'd still recommend adding the tetras first. What type of tetras are you planning on getting, by the way? For the Corys, I'd suggest going with sterbas - they're good-looking and can handle the heat well. As for Plecos, they can be a problem since some will go after the slime coat on discus. All these dither fish can be introduced before the discus. Now, where are you planning on getting your discus from? What size will you be getting, and how big is your tank? There are different approaches depending on the size of the discus you'll be keeping.

[PureAddict]

Re: Stock Order.. opinions/advise please

Thanks for pointing out the importance of these factors - I've learned something new. My tank's a 1000G with a 250G sump and one canister filter - I figure you can never have too much filtration. I'm planning a lightly sand/gravel bottom with hardscape - wood and rock, but no plants. For the fish, I'm thinking 20 Discus, around 3.5-4.5 inches, 8 Albino Long fin Plecos, 200 Tetras, and still deciding on the number of Corys.

[wilde]

Re: Stock Order.. opinions/advise please

A 1000G tank means you've got some wiggle room on water changes, but I'd still recommend starting with larger Discus - at least 5" - they won't be growing much more. With Discus, it's all about investing in quality fish. Your timing's off for Tetras, collecting season is done, and I think you'll need a lot more than 200 to make an impact in a tank this size. I've got a 110-gal tank and I need 50 Tetras just to get noticed, so for a 1000G tank, I'd say you'll need upwards of 250-300. As for Corys, you'll likely need 4-5 dozen for them to be visible. I've worked with an 880-gal tank and small fish get lost unless you've got a large school. Your original question about the order of stocking? Honestly, it doesn't make a difference.

[Finny]

I completely agree with wilde on this one. I've got 2 dozen tetras and 2 dozen rummies in my 112-gallon tank and they barely make an impact. Those massive tanks on YouTube with dozens of small fish look incredible.

I also agree that the order of adding fish doesn't make a difference. Over the past year, I've added various dither fish to my discus tanks without any issues. The only casualties were some small red shrimp, which was my fault. Some of those neons were tiny, but the discus didn't even notice.

I've had plecos in all my tanks without any problems. I've never experienced the issue of them sucking on my discus, but I only buy smaller species. Some plecos can grow up to 1.5 feet long, and I think those might be the ones that cause problems. I stick to Long Fin BN Albinos, Hillstream, and clown plecos.

Just my two cents. One more thing, I'd love to see a picture of your 1,000-gallon tank - I bet it's stunning.

[PureAddict]

Re: Stock Order.. opinions/advise please

Thanks for the input. I'll start a new thread with pics once the tank is up and running. My goal is to create a living piece of art, not breed fish. I'm thinking about the bottom dwellers now... with so many Corys needed to make an impact, I'm wondering if Loaches would be a better option. Not concerned about size, but I've heard they're super active as adults and I want a peaceful tank. Maybe a Ray would be a good fit?

[Jumper]

Re: Stock Order.. opinions/advise please

Your 250G sump is massive, I can barely fit a decent-sized tank in my home. I'm really looking forward to seeing how your setup turns out - hopefully, you'll create a detailed thread in the journal section.

I'd personally prefer a large school of Corys over Loaches, especially Clown Loaches, as they can grow quite large and become active at night, which might harass your Discus while they're sleeping.

Regardless of the order you introduce your fish, make sure to properly quarantine each species, regardless of the source. It would be extremely challenging to treat a disease like Columnaris in a tank of your size.

[FishNe]

Re: Stock Order.. opinions/advise please

I'd like to suggest an alternative to tetras - how about a batch of Dutch or German Blue Rams? They'd be a great fit with your discus, sharing similar environmental and care requirements. Plus, they'd likely avoid being seen as a snack by your discus.