Creating a discus tank with plecs?

[jessonthenet]

For some time I have been wanting discus and have a planted rio 400 which the plants are starting to really fill out the tank. I would like to have some plecs in there too, my head is in bits trying to work out how I can do it properly without affecting my plants or upsetting any fish.

Questions are:

How high do temperatures have to be to affect plants(vallis, crypts, swords and a windelov java fern)

Plecs L114, L129, L191, bristlenoses. I also have otos and cory sterbai and tetras(quite a lot of black widows.

I know that the L114 and the L191 are the problems for planted, only babies at the moment. The L191 is definitely going when it gets bigger, don't really want rid of my L114 if I can help it.

Idea was to have a heavily planted rio 400 with one or 2 large shoals of tetras get more otos and have a very large group of those as well as placing some slate caves hidden around the tank amongst the plants and choosing 1 group or even 2 of small plecs totally different species that may want to breed in there. Then I wanted to add some discus which I have already been offered just need to let them know.

I wasn't planning on breeding discus, my main aim is a centre piece as always intended for my front room. I absolutely love discus , plecs and planted tanks and would love to combine the lot if possible. I know I may have to sacrifice something.

This has been an idea in my head for some time and I have sat and not done much as spent too long deciding which direction in fish keeping to go and how to prioritise things.

I really want to avoid setting up multiple tanks so I can focus on the rio 400.



What should I be thinking about, any advice? Thanks in advance.

 

[xingu]

Wasn't there a thread on this a couple of days ago?

Not a great mix was the general consensus
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[jessonthenet]

couple of days ago not by me.

Just wondering who does mix them and how they found it.

I won't go ahead with anything unless I am sure it would work. I could get rid of the plecs altogether for discus but something I would like to avoid if possible.

Unless there are other large fish good for planted tanks and mixing with plecs that are not a major threat and don't eat my plants.

I had looked at uaru but read they would eat the plants so was a bit wary then angels can get a bit aggressive. Just need something that will work.

I will sit and ponder some more and another year later still be sitting here.

 

[lnb]

just one problem mixing plecos and discus ,the plecos will eat the slime coat off the discus when they get bigger.I am keeping l numbers with discus at the moment,with no problems,but I had to remove common plecos a few years ago due to this problem,have a go and good luck.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
I think you probably need to find an alternative to the Black Widow Tetras, L191 and L114 and possibly the Otocinclus. I also think that your Discus will eat the Amano shrimps at some point.

I think you should be able to keep L129 (H. debliterra) OK with Discus (Larry Waybright "Apistomaster" says you can, and he is a pretty reliable source of information) and Cordoras sterbai, and a Tetra sp., probably either Lemon, Rummy Nose or Black Neon Tetra.

I've kept some juvenile L129 with my Apistogramma for about a year now in a very heavily planted tank, it is also in a very sunny room, so the water temperature has often risen to 30oC or above.

You would need to ensure reasonable water movement and make sure that the aeration is efficient at night.

cheers Darrel

 

[Irene0100]

i dont have personal experiance with discus, but as they have high temps only certain other fish could be kept with them.

 

[macvsog23]

The main problems will be related to the water
Discus can survive at low temperatures’ but will perform a lot better at temperatures’ over 30 centigrade.

Although Discus enjoy clean and well oxygenated water they find it hard to tolerate fast flowing water that most plecs like.
The other issue is plecs “sucking “ on Discus, this is a disputed subject and some say it does not happen. I have seen it with small whiptails and mature Discus. It is not pleasant to watch the Discus try to avoid the other fish.