water surface area

[jblasto]

I just got a 98 gallon tank that the dimensions are 36" long 18" wide and 35" tall. After calculating the water surface area it is 648 sq. inches. I got this tank to host Discus fish. I'm hoping to have around 5 full grown discus accommodate the tank comfortably. Knowing very little about water surface area do you think this is a likely environment for these discus? I have read that Discus actually like the higher tanks (deeper). My only concern was because the tank is only 18" wide due to space limitations I had it constructed more upwards. Anyone with discus fish out there know if 648 sq inches of surface area is good? Thanks for your advice.

[emc7]

So its like a extra,extra high 40 breeder. Really high tanks need extra aeration and/or circulation to keep oxygen and temperature levels consistent throughout the tank. Provided you give them that, I don't think 5 is too many. Whether it is enough space for 2 breeding pairs with depend on how aggressive the individual fish are.

[grogan]

What! This tanks dimensions are insane. Pictures please

[emc7]

Take 2 and a half 40 breeders and stack them. Bet it looks cool. I always tell people to stock the tall tank like the short tank of the same footprint. I think 5 discus in a 40 breeder is about the minimum sized group in the minimum sized tank, but doable.

[weedkiller]

is a glass shop near me thats supplied glass for a few costom tanks, was tempted and it is a hell of a lot cheaper, was paranoid of filling it and a joint fail, thatll be about 200 gallon dumped in my living room

[lohachata]

i think the 5 discus will be fine in that tank until they pair off...then it will get kind of cramped..
i still love my plywood tanks...somewhere i have plans for about a dozen different sizes that i would like to build...i even have a source where i can get the plywood as much as 1 1/2" thick and as long as 12'......i could make a really awesome big tank with that..something like 675 gallons...that would be a fantastic community or clown loach tank...

[kcrunch]

Originally Posted by lohachata i think the 5 discus will be fine in that tank until they pair off...then it will get kind of cramped.. i still love my plywood tanks...somewhere i have plans for about a dozen different sizes that i would like to build...i even have a source where i can get the plywood as much as 1 1/2" thick and as long as 12'......i could make a really awesome big tank with that..something like 675 gallons...that would be a fantastic community or clown loach tank...

I would love to see something that size, to be a part of the building of it would be even more spectacular.... The only place I have any room for that would be if I did something in the basement. I can only imagine....