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This looks like the best place for my questions

I am in the process of setting up a new planted 800lt discus tank and have always like the idea of zebra plecs. The tank will have a large sand foreground, with quite a bit of driftwood with java ferns attached. The tank will be heavily planted.

Due to it being a discus tank, the water is getting changed frequently, automatically really, and around 150lt per day will be changed, with pure ro water and a mix of buffers to re-mineralise.

I will of course be adding them after the tank has been setup for a few months, but the tank should mature fairly quickly as il be seeding the filters with a few mature ones and part of the substrate will also be from an existing tank, no fish will go in until ready

As for stock, there will be around 6 or so adult discus, 40 or so cardinals and a few adolfi corys. Temp will be around 28-29c, no3 < 10, kh - 1-3, ph around 6.5

Do many people keep them in such tanks? I know the preferable setup is a breeding one, but if they are happy in such a tank then that could be sufficient to keep them happy and hopefully spawn them too? So anyone keep them like this successfully in a discus tank?

Many thanks,
James

Discus should work fine, but I'm not so sure I'd want to keep other bottom dwelling fish with them. Remember they don't compete well for food.

OK well that is promissing, i now need to find a breeder near me (london area). Regards the corys, there are only 3 at the moment, i would probably get another 3, with the amount of mess discus make
i am sure there must be enough food for all of them.

I have had a read of this forum now and it is quite a regular question, so off i go to do more reading!

James

Few more questions now!

I have the chance to buy a few young zebras and they will be getting there own tank now until i get a few to breed then they can go into my discus tank.

From what i have read, a bare bottom tank is ideal and caves. Anyone got a link for a good set? Also how many would be best? I would have 6 zebras.

I guess it is going to be a while for them to breed from 2", what size / how long till they become mature?

I would be using pure RO water & seachems equilibrium, so ph around 6.5, kh 3, ideal?

The tank they will be in would be a 3' so should be a good size for them from what i have read.

Any feedback, much appreciated

James