Discus

[jgentry]

Once they are around 2 inches they would do great in your tap water. The problem is getting them to hatch and make it to 2 inches in tap water. I have never had any make it without using at least 50% RO until that point. Doesn't mean it can't happen, I just haven't had any luck doing it.

I'll try to put something together in the breeding section later this week.

[jon carman]

Thanks

[fishme]

During my previous stint fish keeping (about 20 years ago) discus were known to be very fragile, not to mention expensive. I was always scared to keep them even in the small fish-aquarium shop I owned. I hear they are much more hardy these days. Is that true? Also, are they still very expensive? I have a 45-gallon (same footprint as a 30 long but 24 inches tall) that I think would make a beautiful discus tank, but I'm on a tight budget and worried they won't make it.

[jgentry]

They are relatively hardy. But are still considered a specialist fish and they do require more work to keep them then most fish. I would not say they are difficult to keep because anyone can keep discus successfully if they fallow a few simple rules and are willing to do the extra work. They are still pretty expensive though.

With that said I would not us the 45g as a discus tank. Discus do best in groups of atleast 5 and 45g is not large enough for 5 discus. Usually at least a 4ft tank is needed with a 55g being the minimum that I would recommend.