How to setup a new tank for Discus?

After keeping discus for more than 2 years, I understood that there is a lot of fuss about keeping these beauties. People unnecessarily tend to get into complications as the discus fall into delicate fishes category. If things are followed in right manner, they are as hardy fish as guppy. I'm not exaggerating...this has come from my experience.

In order to get started with discus keeping one must begin with setting up the tank. Let's see the dimensions first.

Tank Dimensions

When it comes to discus, it should be "Bigger the better". Dont go for tanks with awkward shapes, stick to the rectangular tank. The height of the tank should be at least 24", this is necessary as to give them as much space as possible to have them grow vertically as well. The depth of the tank should be 18" at least which will give them enough space to turn. The length of the tank should be at least 24" in size. You can always increase the length of the tank if you wish to add more number of discus.

Decorations

For discus with smaller size (less than 4") don't add any decoration items like rocks, sand, gravel, plants. At the max one can put good quality (processed) driftwood/bog-wood. Bare-bottom tank is a convenience to discus keeper for siphoning the tank. If the tank has got decorative items, it becomes a bit difficult for keeping the tank clean. In addition to this, if decorative items are not cleaned in timely manner, they tend to develop parasites which are harmful to fishes.

Background

The pigeon blood strains (without stress bars) do well when the tank background is plain white or light blue. Backgrounds which are dark in color may stress them a bit and the discus will start to show peppering (dark spots) on body/nose or on fins.

Preparing the tank

Once the tank is prepared, wash it and clean it with potassium permanganate. Cycle the tank for at least 1-2 weeks with cycling fishes (Zebras, Tetras etc) and the tank should have appropriate bio-filter (sponge filter) installed which will cater to the tank size accordingly. This process will make sure that the tank has got beneficial bacteria colony developed in the tank which will reduce the ammonia build-up in it.

Location of the tank

The tank should be located in traffic free area where there is less movement in front of it. Try to have tank in low noise region which will make sure not to disturb discus fishes.

If above things are followed correctly and religiously, the tank aka mansion will be perfectly set for the King.

What to look for when buying discus?

There are a lot of sources one can buy discus from e.g. Local Fish Shop, Discus Breeder, Discus rearer. But when it comes to getting the discus home the decision has to be made after a close observation ONLY.

I call it an "Investment time" for the time taken for selecting a discus. This is utmost necessary as there can be a lot of sources who will try to sell low grade or sick discus and these delicate fishes are prone to a lot of diseases. After all I learned to use medicines for fishes from my discus fishes only.

• Usually you should have a choice to select discus from a lot. The ones who are coming in front of the tank asking for food are the ones with good health. And this is the chance to have a close look at the fish. 
• As their name has derived from "DISC", the shape of the fish should be round and should resemble to the disc.
• There should not be any deformity in anal and dorsal fins of the fish. There can be deformed discus (caused because of inbreeding or water parameters) which will have half cut fins.
• The fins should be erected and should not be clamped.
• The tail of the discus fish should be transparent.
• Look for the fish which has got wide forehead. Don't buy discus with narrow forehead as it may have internal disease.
• Don't buy discus which is dark in color or stays in a corner, this is one of the signs of sick fish.
• The eyes should be bright in color and either of the eyes should not be clipped.
• The eye size should be in proportion with the body size. It is said that vertically (from eye), the eye should be fit in 7 times for normal discus. If the eye size fits in less than 7, then the discus is stunted and such fish should not be selected.
• Don't buy fish transparent/stringy feces/poo/excerta as this is an indication of internal problem.
• Check for breathing of the fish as well, healthy discus with proper environment breaths around once per second.
• Do check for gills as well, discus fish with open gills usually has got problem of "gill flukes"

If you are buying discus in 2" or 3", non-hormone fed discus usually don't get color/pattern at this stage. If the fish has full pattern in this size, don't buy it as it may be fed with hormone which is problematic for fish's lever and fertility in longer run.

And if you are buying it first time, always but at least 6 discus of same size. Don't mix small discus fishes with bigger ones. For beginners in discus...look for my next blog where I will share some information on how to prepare the discus tank.