Tank Size vs Stock Level Options

[Jack Goh]

Hi,
Have a question: Is it better to house 16pcs 2~2.5inches in TWO 2ft tanks or better to house 13pcs the same size in a 3ft tank?

[Rajan]

Go for the 3ft tank

[Colin_Heng]

I'm for the 4 ft.The best size to grow out discus.Not too big,not too small,just al dente.

[Terence Chia]

Most importantly is the volume of water. Bigger tank means high volume of water but also bear in mind that not too big till the discus is scared and hiding in a corner.

[Jack Goh]

Hi all,
Thank for the comment. Never try the juvs with 4ft tank as it takes more tank for wc.

My thinking is to house them in the 2ft tanks first and move them (smaller one) to 3ft tank when the dominant and bigger one are formed. Or how will you separate the big from the small? Even in the 3ft tank the small one may still not grow well because of the dominant one exist. How you over-come this issue?

[Jack Goh]

Correction: Never try the juvs with 4ft tank as it takes more time for wc.

[Rajan]

Once the discus reach 3inch and above you have to put them in a 4ft Tank.

[Jack Goh]

Thank for reply. Some people still use just the 3ft tank for their discus, so is 4ft tank the must for 3inches+? Probably I guess 3ft can't accomodate so many, so if don't have 4ft tank then TWO 3ft tank have to be used, right?

NB: They looks must different in the 3ft tank. Thank.

[Terence Chia]

its just a matter of water condition. If you want them to grow well and fast, house them in 4ft.

[Jack Goh]

Thank for reply. Never keep juvs in 4ft tank before. Will try to clear a empty 4ft tank to try. BTW, only move them when they reached 3inches or can move them even they are still small as 2inches?

Thanks.

[Terence Chia]

move them when they are about 2inch, so you will not have a lapse in growth rate.

For tank size, imagine pouring 50gm of amonia into 1L of water and compare that to pouring 50gm of amonia into 100L of water, which one has higher concentration level?? Thats exactly like to amonia produced by a fixed number of fishes in a different tank size. Amonia the the cause for growth rates.

Regards
Terence Chia

[Jack Goh]

Ammonia is probably the good answer that explain for the daily wc and I have not related it to the grow. Forgot to ask generally how many 2inch can house in a 4ft tank? Sorry lazy and don't know how to calculate the gallon per fish method.

[Terence Chia]

If I didnt remember wrongly, the famous jack wattley suggested 10gal per fish. Which is about 38L per fish. that means if you fill a 3ft by 1.5ft tank to 11inch water height you can only house about 3.2 fish.

My practise for 4ft by 1.5ft by 11inch of water is about 15pcs of 2inch. You will have to play with that number in regard to your water change routine and also how calm your fishes are. You will have to house them in such a way that they are not over crowded and also not too stress till hiding in a corner.

Regards
Terence Chia

[Jack Goh]

Thank again for the reply. I don't think I have the luxury to house them according to that rule. Anyway I can see how "happy" they were when they were moved to the 4ft. BTW, to what I think the larger the tank the longer the water parameter change, right?

[Terence Chia]

Yup, but that can be overcome by systems