My New Discus Tank - Step by Step

Hi There. Tried this post last night but didnt work. John H posted great instructions on how to do this properly so here we go again

Tank in Shop before picking it up


Tank Delivered to house and work about to start. Had to take the day off as new the place would be a disaster and would get an ear load about it. Also had a 180L running and had to set new tank up, bring it to temp, transfer over water, established cannister, add new cannister and make up the balance with new water - another 220L approx.

Aquabasis added around side and back of tank as going to plant it.


Gravel and Slate came next: cleaned the gravel a few days in advance and this took hours (literally!). Didn't want the tank to be murky and full of dust so cleaned it extra well. Used slate as divider between section of tank with aqua basis and that with just gravel. I did this because was concerned about the water quality going forward and wanted a front 'feeding' area which I could thoroughly vacuum without disturbing an underlayer of aquabasis that could be released into the water column..



Next came the addition of water. Decided to add fresh water first so added about 180L of new dechlorinated water. Brought it to temp and then started transferring water over from my existing tank. Added clingfilm to bottom of tank so as not to disturb the substrate while pouring water in from a height - worked a treat as was using buckets!!!







Bagged up all my discus and other fish too and put them into styrofoam boxes that I got from a sponsor site (used for transporting fish) as wanted to ensure they kept at a suitable temp and also didnt want them more stressed out than they already were going to be - given I was literally emptying their home around them!! In the meantime, I took the e901 external from my old 180L and set it up on the new tank. Also took squeezings from the old Vision 180L internal filter and seeded the new e1501 I was also adding to the new tank. Once i had both filters connected up and ready to go I added in as much of the remaining tank water from my established tank. I then slowly added my discus and others to the tank, finally topping off the tank with 15L of fresh water until it was completely full. Left it a week or so and then planted it (should have done this before I filled it but I simply had too much to do that day and I knew I couldn't get it all done in one day).

Had to change out a few of the plants at the back rear near filters as they just couldn't deal with the temp of the tank (28c). Also added some moss and a few swords. Slate divide works a treat as high enough to keep most of the food in the front area and has made it easier to give the tank a good clean.

Meant to say, I was concerned about the volume of the new tank being more than double my old tank and was adding about 220L of new water to the 180l of water from my old tank so I used organic aqua too.....overly cautious Im sure as had an established and well seeded new filter but safe than sorry...

4 Weeks on....



6 Weeks on......



Another photo - 6 weeks.....




So far so good....added a JBL Aquacristal UVC, a full Co2 system, two aqua ray GroBeam Ultimas, a jewel Vision 260L light unit and a few airstones - loads of timers of course which are driving me mad...also spent way too much!!!!

Took a vid of tank yesterday - jumbo fire red male Stendker is largest fish in tank but my other dark angel female Stendker and crystal yellow female (now tequila red coloured - I posted a photo of this fish when i first got it and after a few weeks it turned more red/orange than the bright yellow it was!! Food Im guessing...) aren't far behind... 3 blue diamonds I got from Sina (Discus Killester) a few months back are now big and strong...

s1297.photobucket.com/user/gonefishy1/me...mp4.html?sort=2&o=10

That's me for now and will post a few more vids of them shimmying, egg laying etc. later in the week

Looks fantastic. Good work.

I got a few Blue Diamonds myself too from Discus Killester. Stunning fish. You must have took the bigger lads from his batch as mine aint quite as big as yours

I have a thread on my own tank in the Discus section.

Thanks for that. I'm happy with the tank and hope it grows out nicely...I must have a look at your own thread ...discus are lovely fish I have to say...Brian

Discus are lovely. I had started out with Angelfish but soon changed over to Discus. Just wondering Brian what food are you feeding your Discus?

Thanks John and your welcome...I was planning the changeover for a few weeks and it went to plan I'm glad to say. Was worried about my fish first and foremost and I didn't lose a single one and they've adapted well to their new larger home cheers. Brian

doreilly wrote:

Discus are lovely. I had started out with Angelfish but soon changed over to Discus. Just wondering Brian what food are you feeding your Discus?

Discus pellets, flake, beef heart, frozen blood worms(once a week only) and that's about it. Supplement the beef heart with vitamin drops too...B

Any suggestions how I could make my tank look better?? Thx.

I think once it grows in it'll look really good. but is that java moss on the bogwood? that's going to break your heart

Why Lemon? Will it just not grow or take forever?

oh it'll grow! boy will it grow! once it attaches itself to the wood well enough (and esp if it gets co2), it'll take off. the way to get it to spread is to cut it back a lot. that way it spreads along the surface in stead of outwards into the water column. the only problem is that sinks as you cut it and ends up being a pain to remove from the bottom of the tank. I love java moss but i'll never again put it on something I can't take out of the tank and trim

Wow. It hast taken off as of yet and I was beginning to think it was slow growing and going to annoy the shite out of me. Good advice Lemon and greatly appreciated....Brian

no worries. it does have one great advantage though. if it takes off it's a great one for removing nitrates from your tank each time you give it a "haircut"

very nice tank!

Cracking stuff Brian !

Regarding trimming Java moss or any fine stemmed plants, do so while using a small diameter but long piece of tubing, while you cut, vacuum at the same time, no pieces will float away as they will be sucked up!

H.

Lovely tank and great step by step picture's, Best of luck with it,


SM