tank setup compatibility

Question
QUESTION: Hi there I hope you can help me, my husband and I will soon begin the process of setting up our third tank, it will hold between 240-300 UK litres and we are going to put in a small group of 5 or so discus, I know the usual tankmates are a shoal of tetras but someone has suggested that a small group of silver dollars would compliment the discus and are peaceful tankmates, the other option I've been reccomended is german blue rams. I would like your opinion on whether any of these combinations would work or preferably all of them! Many thanks in advance, Chloe

ANSWER: Hi Chloe,
300 UK litres would be around 80 gallons.  The Discus Fish do get big.  I wouldn't recommend Silver Dollars.  They are a schooling fish which means that they are happy in groups of six!   One Silver dollar needs 10 gallons of water to himself, as does the Discus, so this wouldn't be a good choice for your tank.  Rams would be a good choice  They are amazing, and so pretty.  They are one of the most peaceful cichlids.  They also need the same water chemistry as the Discus.  
 It is my opinion that a tank with Discus, and Rams, and a school of tetras would be much prettier.  It is up to you, and what you like.  Another pretty schooling fish is the Emperor Tetra.  It is very pretty, and peaceful, and would make good tank mates for the discus.  Another one which is gorgeous is the "Congo Tetra".  It is a very peaceful fish, easily frightened by noise, so no tapping on the aquarium glass...It also is a school fish, grows to 3 inches, and requires the same water chemistry as the Discus fish.
Hope this helps
Lynda

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QUESTION: Thankyou for your speedy reply, I think I'll avoid the silver dollars then and stick with tetras, we already have congo's in another tank with 3 butterfly fish and I love rummy nose so I'll maybe put some of them with the discus. 2 things about the rams though, if I choose to go with them firstly, as they are bottom dwellers does that mean I couldn't or shouldn't add any sterba's corys? And also how many rams would be best and what ratio of male-female?

ANSWER: Hi!
Rams are peaceful, but they are cichlids, and will make their territory, and attack any fish that dares go in!  I would put the little corys in first.  "Corydoras Metae" "Bandit Cichlid" gets along well with the Ram.  One male to three females would be the best way to go.  Provide them with many hiding places.  They are so cute to watch, you will not regret your choice.
Lynda

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QUESTION: So in your opinion the layout should be something like this 5 or so discus, a shoal of rummynose tetras, 4 rams and maybe some corys as long as they go in befor the rams? I was looking at the corydoras sterbai as I know they go well with discus but I don't want them to be scared off by the rams, is the corydoras metae similar but better at handling itself?

Answer
All corys will school with their own...The bandit is more capable of handling himself with the territorial Ram.  The Sterbei is more timid, and should be kept only with small peaceful fish.  You should have 6 Bandits in your tank.  You could also put 6 rams, in your tank.  As for the school of tetras, the choice is yours.  Rummy-nose tetras are robust, and need the same water condition as the Discus Fish.


I just wanted to add, that seeing as the tetra fish are very small you could add two schools if you like...a school of rummy-nose, and a school of Emperor Tetras...that would be beautiful to see.  The emperor Tetra grows to 2 inches.
If you are putting a plecostamus in your tank, I would suggest the zebra pleco.  He is a beauty, and grows to 3 inches, and doesn't make a nasty mess with waste.  He lives in the same waters as the Discus fish, and gets along with all the fish we mentioned.  There is also the clown pleco that grows to 4 inches, the Golden Nugget which grows to 6 inches.  The "Inspector Pleco" which grows to 4 inches.  The Leopard Pleco grows a little bit bigger to 10 inches.  All these plecos would be able to live in the water conditions you will have, and being small would be a nice addition to your tank.  They are all peaceful plecos.
I can almost see it ...it will be beautiful
Lynda