My Discus Tank is ready!

[LouPhoenix]

After many months of preparation, my discus tank is ready! The biggest challenge has been softening Florida water and lowering PH levels to an optimal 6.5 level. Peat moss did the trick nicely. I'm using 6500K Power compacts and the substrate has collected enough nutrients to support live plants. Ordered a snakeskin discus and a true cobalt blue today... more pics when they arrive!

Full tank view

Albino Cory

Ghost Shrimp

 

[ibmgeek]

I dont know squat about freshwater but i think if you get a co2 with a controller things would be alot easier to maintain ph.

 

[LouPhoenix]

And you're absolutely correct. Right now i'm using a DIY CO2 reactor...until I can afford a CO2 tank.

 

[REDDAWG43]

Thats a sweet tank!!!

 

[Rogger Castells]

very nice, I was always afraid of discus tank, I will look forward to see your tank progress. Good luck.

 

[Kogo]

the peat is a nice choice for softening the water, and as a bonus it also will bind heavy meatals.

your gravel may be a problem long tern due to the large size. you may want to look into a finer grain gravel and supliment with root tabs, or go with a fertilized gravel made special for plants.

i know you already have discus on the way, but for future refrence, if you would like a tester fish to see if your tank is stable enough for discus, i like to intraduce blue rams. they can be very sensitive to water quality and fluctuations. if they are active and spawning, its a good bet that the discus will be happy as well. they are also (IMO) compatible to discus and a nice compliment as well.

 

[LouPhoenix]

Thanks all!

Kogo, I do have timed release fertilizer tabs deep in the gravel. I have considered finer substrate, but I need to research that a bit more...i've read some articles stating that some organic sediment will do well in lieu of fine gravel. As far as the Blue Rams. that's a good idea, I did some reading after seeing your suggestion and did see many references and tank shots which showed Rams and discus together. Coincidentially, the Neighborhood Fish Farm had really nice Blue Rams in stock when I went there last Saturday. I'll probably have them hold me a pair.

While I'm on the subject of the Neighborhood Fish Farm, they also had archer fish in stock, which would be neat in my backyard pond, since it has a lot of overhanging plants / branches and a healthy bug population buzzing around the water... it would be neat to see them shoot the bugs out of the branches....! but i'm gonna do some research before I buy them as i'm afraid that they won't do well here during the winter cold snaps.... more to follow.

 

[db_triggerfish]

Re: My Discus Tank is ready!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10496312#post10496312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LouPhoenix

Full tank view

Very nice and warm, I feel that a discus tank give a room a calming effect, up north during that winter months a planted tank adds a warm touch to room. Someday i plan to have one. i hope by then there is way to keep from having weekly water changes.

 

[rorchilles]

watson discus

 

[Husky_1]

Very nice looking.