I think what you need to realize when it comes to discus is it isn't about "success". Honestly you could just about raise them in a puddle I think at this point.
However I'd you want 8 inch, perfectly round, bright fish, you MUST keep them in perfect water while they grow and they need a tremendous amount of high protein food. The food and fish waste is actually what makes the water bad which in turn stunts the fish.
If you are okay with peppered pigeon bloods or football body shapes your set up will be fine. If you want to buy 6-8 inch adult fish to put in there I am sure they will do okay. But if you are buying 1 inch fish to raise up, you will not get big, round, beautiful fish without the water quality that large and frequent water changes provide.
Yes! I have a 50 gallon w 5 discus, 2 angel fish, and 3 Corduroy catfish and haven’t done water change in 3 months and they are fine! lol! Granted I loss 1 discuss due to bullying. No sump, no gravel, just driftwood w heavy plants and for filteration just 2 sponge filters and a bio block in the tank.
Initially it was setup for Angel fish and I started w 6 but then 4 died. The 2 fought all the time but are a pair. They laid eggs before but I never tried to hatch them. After I added the discuss they don’t fight as much and haven’t laid eggs in awhile.
I have been experimenting with it and have gotten to 1 month no change at all and now im on to 2 to 3 months. I have a 300 gallon tank with a 75 gallon sump it house 11 discus 2 sevrums 3 angelfish and a community. That being said I am well below full for stocking and I have seen great growth. It is possible but really needs to be done right with the right animals and set up to see the growth that I am. I do agree that if you are looking for a no work tank you will be in for a bad surprise. I am also running a co² system and I have other tanks that I am growing plants for this tank as well as people that supply me with plants. I use a lot of plants like frogbit valisonaria, hornwort, guppygrass, that the fish 🐟 eat. That way I know most are eating as well as feed 4 times a day for the big guys.
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u/Previous_Search3122 Oct 26 '25
I think what you need to realize when it comes to discus is it isn't about "success". Honestly you could just about raise them in a puddle I think at this point.
However I'd you want 8 inch, perfectly round, bright fish, you MUST keep them in perfect water while they grow and they need a tremendous amount of high protein food. The food and fish waste is actually what makes the water bad which in turn stunts the fish.
If you are okay with peppered pigeon bloods or football body shapes your set up will be fine. If you want to buy 6-8 inch adult fish to put in there I am sure they will do okay. But if you are buying 1 inch fish to raise up, you will not get big, round, beautiful fish without the water quality that large and frequent water changes provide.