I jumped back into the hobby last Feb (2010) after 25 years out. After a month or so I picked up 12 Discus Fry about 12 weeks old. After 6 weeks I sold off half for most of my investment. I was raising the 12 in a 29G bare bottom tank for the 1st six weeks. One year later, all have survived and have reached a size of close to 5" for the most dominate to 3 - 3.5 for the smaller ones. They went from the 29 after the 6 weeks to a 75, then a 125 and now have found a home for the last 6 months in a 155G 6 footer.. They will once again be moved to a 135 4 footer that will give me more depth same height. The 155 has a clay based substrate called Safe-T-Sorb which is a oil/gas absorption product used in the auto repair industry. I have drift wood and tons of plants in the tank. My tap water comes out about 7.2 but once added to the tank adjusts down to mid to low 6's.. I keep my temp about 85 degrees and do NO Water changes other than a bi-weekly gravel siphon and evaporation top-off. Perhaps 10% of volume per week.
Their tank mates are; about a dozen and a half assorted tetras, a few plecos, 8 laser orange pigmy cory's, and a six-pack of German Blue Rams.
I feed them about 5 times a day with each feeding frenzy lasting about 2 minutes, including the browsing for that which reached the bottom. Twice a week, they get a treat of either frozen: bloodworms, beefheart or brine shrimp. The rest of the time it's flake food from Kensfish spirilina (sp)...
I've been looking for another dozen to repeat this effort for the last 3 months and this friday I'll be picking up another dozen 3 month old fry. A Brilliant Turq, and a Solid Fire Red cross.. Should be interesting watching this mix grow out!..
Bill in Va.
