kEEPING OTHER FISH WITH DISCUS

Question
Hi Nori wonder if you can help i have a 170 litre tank 4 foot by 1 foot by 15 inch.I have 4 discus around 2 inch and 20 cardinals i would like to introduce a couple of bottom cleaners (clean up crew) in to my tank but i'm worried that what i choose will eat my cardinals when they get a little bigger just after something pleasant to the eye but mostly good bottom feeders any sugestions on this your info would be much apreciated thanxs in advance Tim

Answer
Hi Tim,
Thank you for your letter. You might get one plecostomus, but don't get a lot. They grow really large, up to 12 - 13 inches nose to tail. They are gentle fish unless they are in a very small tank and you try to introduce other fish.
Especially if they start out small, they should be sociable. Be sure to get the plecto a hiding place. They like to hide most of the time. In fact, get hiding places for all your fish - rocks, pieces of slate, etc.
Also, reduce your feeding to one flake or pellet per square inch of fish per day. You should not have stuff at the bottom that needs cleaning up. Also, use the product Cycle to treat the water. it's friendly bacteria, not a chemical.
All for now. Write back if you want to discuss further.
Nori
http://steamboats.com/aquarium.html