Discus community Tank

Discussion in 'Community Tanks' started by Lambshank, Dec 3, 2009.

  1. OP
    Lambshank

    Lambshank

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    the guy at the fish shop made it sound like discus are really easy to keep.???

    But thanks will think about it like you said don't want to throw cash away. But they can really look good.

    Still confused about plants during cycle. Could they die from amm nit spikes?

    will try post pics, but the tank. Did some improvements from the tanks last owner.
     
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  3. Reafer

    Reafer

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    the first golden rule of fishkeeping is never listen to the guy at the fishshop :) they will do anything for a sale and have no clue of what they are talking about. There are many horror story's on this site starting with "but the guy at the fish shop told me.........." . The best advice u can get is right here. there are alot of discus keepers on the site and if you have your mind set on discus just do alot of resurch and make sure your water is well matured.
     
  4. neilh

    neilh

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    Discus aren't that hard to keep. The big BUT is that they need clean water ie low nitrates with a constant ph.

    Nope, plants don't die. Plants take up Ammonia over Nitrite and Nitrate. That same Ammonia you want in your tank to seed the filter media with bacteria.

    Lambshank, where you located? Start slowly. So get the tank running with just water and start off with a school of something small like tetras
     
  5. OP
    Lambshank

    Lambshank

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    I stay around the south of johannesburg, near the Glen shopping centre. I go to a place called kenilworth aquariums for most of my stuff. Thanks will tank it slow and will load some pics later today.
     
  6. OP
    Lambshank

    Lambshank

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    [​IMG]
    Picture of my black gravel


    [​IMG]

    Picture of the overflow area with the return pump in the middle and the two new durso pipes I installed.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Sump and sump plumbing.

    Sorry for the bad photo quality.
     
  7. neilh

    neilh

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    Do yourself a favour and install ball valves on the pipes into the sump
     
  8. OP
    Lambshank

    Lambshank

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    Overflow and return??
     
  9. neilh

    neilh

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    Overflow only

    You restrict the flow till the water level is somewhere around the level of the Durso. Otherwise you'll get serious gurgling and flushing sounds as the water falls through the pipes. Might be hard to balance two Durso's though
     
  10. OP
    Lambshank

    Lambshank

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    Hey Gebhardt

    Which algae eater do you have in the tank with discus?

    Checked the plumbing yeasterday for leaks etc and all went well, the dursos did make a little noise but it was nothing compared to the noise it was making before.
     
  11. Sean J

    Sean J

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    In a tank with Discus, get a good sized school of ottos or apple snails.
     
  12. Gebhardt

    Gebhardt

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    Hi

    Lambshank I have a Chinese Algae eater in. Have never seen it trying to suck on a discus. And it rules the algae. lol growing like mad...

    Snails don't work for me. I had 10 in there and no joy. the one Chinese Algae keeps it clean.....
     
  13. Big G

    Big G Apisto Nutz!!!

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    I think there are three potential issues with Chinese Algea Eaters...

    Firstly is that they tend to develop their taste for fish slime when they start to get to the larger end of the scale.

    Secondly, they get large! Upto around 28cm if I remember correctly!

    And thirdly, the bigger they get, the more aggro they can become!

    I had to get rid of mine when it was just 8cm as it was bullying just about everything in my tank, Botia included! I now have around 7 Otocinclus in my tank, who are constantly busy nibbly and sucking!! I also have a Sturisoma Aureum (Golden Whiptail) as well which is one of the newest inhabitants, and she is very keen on algea! Not sure if the Otos or Sturisomas are comfortable with the higher temp!?! Haven't got my books to hand to check?

    Cheers
    Big G!
     
  14. OP
    Lambshank

    Lambshank

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    thanks guys,

    filled the tank up with water yesterday, the overflow makes a bit of a noise but its a huge improvement on the sounds it was making before.
     
  15. Donny

    Donny

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    Good Luck Lambshank ... now for the pics pls :)
     
  16. OP
    Lambshank

    Lambshank

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    of water?? just joking will try take some pics and load them up later this week. going to try get the temp right this week and get some guppies on the week end, should survive until i get back in jan but will get my dad to feed them once a week and top up the water.
     
  17. OP
    Lambshank

    Lambshank

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    [​IMG]

    Got 5 corys to cycle the tank yesterday.
     
  18. neilh

    neilh

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    Is the background painted on? Dark backgrounds and Discus don't go well together. They tend to darken up or increase peppering in Pigeon Blood strains.

    Tank looks good though.

    Ps Are you Trad on SARK?
     
  19. OP
    Lambshank

    Lambshank

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    Yip, i've given up on marine fish for something easier.

    Hopefully the back of the tank will be overgrown with plants, I did paint the black backing onto the outside of the tank so I could hide the light and pump cables.

    I bought a PLB 120H 4x 36w light fitting tank is 450L so 118 Gallons and it has 144w of lighting in total will that be enough for a planted tank.
     
  20. neilh

    neilh

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    How deep is the tank? 4X36 over a 4ft/5ft isn't considered high light

    Change that background now if you are considering Discus. I thought exactly the same as you when I started mine out. I ended up having to change it 6 months down the line even with plants going nuts and very little of the background being visible
     
  21. Gebhardt

    Gebhardt

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    That is true about discus and dark backgrounds!!!!
    NOT RECOMMENDED.....
     

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