My new discus + tank ex Marco

Ok I've been sitting on this for a while and I think its time for the grand unveiling.

The Tank:
Self built 150cm x 65cm x 60cm (water level at 55cm)
110l bucket/bin converted to a sump with 2l Matrix for media
Bare bottom for easy cleaning
Aqua Clear 110 for water polishing
2 Air driven Boyu sponge filters for extra filtration and water oxygenation
Jager 300W + Jager 100W heaters
Water temp. 31
To get my TDS down I do about 25% RO mixed in with regular aged water
pH 6.5
I used some Microbe Lift to help the filter along and it seems to be doing the trick, that along with the sponge filter Marco was kind enough to ship with the fish.

The Fish:
This is kind of a big deal and surely the best thing thats ever happened to my fish keeping career. I was lucky enough (I was not too proud to beg) to secure 8 PARASITE FREE discus from Marco which landed safely - if almost 2 hours late - on the 30th December and by gosh these little guys are amazing. Within 24hours they were eating straight from my fingers! No settling issues whatsoever. Ive been feeding them almost exclusively on Benker's discus mix (from Prof B) and the quality of the food really shows. I know im sounding like and infomercial here But Wait! There's More! These discus have shown such personality following me around, acting like clowns when they not being fed and ravenous beasts when they are.
Yes keeping everything sterile is a ball ache but its so worth it when their distilled awesomeness is taken into account.

The Drama:
Due to a stupid lack of judgment on my part 1 of them got sucked into my sump via the top skimming overflow pipe (40mm). Luckily this happened during a water change and I saw it laying on top of the filter floss in my sump. It could not have been there for longer than 30 seconds. Though it was badly injured it was still swimming, staying upright and maintained its colour though the stress bars were very dark. It showed a complete lack of appetite. Needless to say I was very worried and by the second day I was preparing myself for the worst when Marco suggested (and what was another facepalm moment for me) that I add salt to the tank (1 spoon/100l) and by gosh did that work. Within an hour it was not only eating but pushing the others out the way to get FOOD! Was truly miraculous. Since then its been doing fantastic and I can see what looks like fin re growth. I can only ascribe its quick recovery to being a great fish supplied. He's now been named Bear Grylls.

It almost feels like I should be putting a disclaimer here but I really cant rave enough about these fish, from the way Marco packaged them (1 fish per double bag in a secure styro box) to their amazing (and financially crippling) appetites is just pure professionalism. Thanks Marco, you made my birthday one of the most memorable yet. I'm sure these guys will give me years of pleasure.

On another note I just want to mention that none of this would have been possible without it being a total TASA collaboration.
The tank design was inspired by the many builds featured here
The sump and overflow design is straight from Prof. B's section (specifically Zoom's filtration question and the flurry of responses it generated)
Food (again Prof B)
Microbe Lift (Thanks for exposing the product to us Henk)
My buddies Herwe (who was also lucky enough to get some PF beauts), Reyno, Vez, Sean J for their encouragement and support.
And most of all, Marco for being ready with advice, a critical eye and a true pal. Thanks my friend, you've made my century.

Hope you guys enjoy!

 

hey buddy! very very very nice!

 

Congrats on the build. We need more pics.

 

Awesome! Stunning little buggers! I still love discus. I am sure they will have a wonderful home in that tank for a long, long time to come! I can't wait to see them grow up!

PS: Is your birthday on the 30th of December? If it is, we share a birthday, and happy, belated birthday.

 

Thanks guys, will post more pics as they develop. I want to do a month by month progress report so peeps can see their development.

Nah Sean, my b'day is close tho but things had to fall in place first before I could take delivery. Also, Happy Birthday to you too hehe

 

Monthly report bro?
I think weekly sounds much better man.

I know that feeling of pure extacy when fish from Marco arrive.
They gonna give you a lifetime of pride and pleasure, :embarrest: ok I do like fishing so I had to exaggerate a bit lets rather say a good couple of years rather than a lifetime he he.

Happy days

Ps: congrats on the tank you built

 

Hi @jedigenie

They look wonderful! Wow! The tank looks really clean and that always helps to get these guys to bounce back so quick after their travels. I have it on good authority that Discus dont like flying, (something about them rather swimming to where they want to go -dont understand it completely) and the best thing to do for them after such an ordeal is to provide them with good, clean water. I am glad they have bounced back so well and so quick.

These guys are true gluttons! I fed them from hand ensuring they all get to the food - so it is perfectly normal for them to "reach out" to you and do the same. They are such a pleasure. On some days I managed to feed them on an hourly routine, and I was always amazed to see them go for the food with the same gusto as if they had'nt been fed for days. Amazing!

When I first embarked on the parafree "program", logic told me that they would need less food as whatever they got fed would be used by the body only, and no nutriounts would go to waste (absorbed by parasites). How wrong I was! I forgot to take into account that they would be able to grow amazingly quick, and thus consume as much, if not more food than other fry. I have honestly never seen fry eat as much as these guys did. They are always hungry!

From me - Its all been a pleasure buddy. I really hope you enjoy them and that for a very very long time they provide you with amazing experiences. You waited long enough, so you deserve a truly wonderful discus experience.

Next up - Parafree Blue Diamonds!

Regards

Marco

 

@Marco - Parafree Heckles!!!!

One day, I will come for a batch of parafree's to add to a 6ft nature aquarium!

 

@Sean J

Gosh, I'd be happy just getting Heckels to spawn - let alone attempting to raise them Parafree. It would be great though. Its a true pity they have proven so difficult to breed - I do fear for their future as the Heckel has become very popular of late, and with the Amazon in the state it has been the past few years - who knows how long the Wild Heckel will still be available.

Pity we cant "talk" them into breeding in captivity.

Regards

Marco

 

I dont know whats the issue with keeping discus fish, everybody say its so difficult to keep them but its not. Just a few simple rules to follow, thats all. Love your fish, but mine are more beautiful:bigsmile:

 

Hey Vissie, thanks for the input but a couple of things quick.


1) Its clear to me now that there are discus ard there are DISCUS. Having kept discus before and now having these DISCUS I am totally qualified to tell you that these are the latter.
2) Settling issues are common when introducing discus to a new setup (juveniles and a completely new setup)). Not so with these fellas, its like they were always there. So either I have a knack of creating an ideal home for them or the fish are very strong and healthy. Whichever the case I'm happy.
3) Your fish are most certainly not more beautiful These are the best discus ever! If you dont agree you are calling my mother a liar! Hehe jokes aside, these fish are honestly amazing. Hard to quantify exactly how special they are and until you come see for yourself you will just have to take my word for it.

 

Hi guys

@jedigenie - Mmmmm. . . I cant comment on those guys - wont be objective - hahaha

@Vissie - Gosh - please dont take this up the wrong way - some of your comment is just altogether silly. If you dont know what the fuss is about keeping Discus, and you think they are easy to keep - good on you, but I would like to warn you - dont underestimate the species, and do not overestimate your ability. I dont know how long you have been keeping Discus - but from a previous thread, in which you asked for HELP relating to feeding them - I think I remember them being Juveniles?

Making statements like that leads to a perception that these fish are "No trouble". That is simply not the case. If it was - Prof. Dirk for one would be almost rendered useless on this forum.
In your previous thread you asked help as your discus were only eating Bloodworm - very few other freshwater fish will give you that same problem with feeding - next up you'd notice they deteriorate, become skinny, have white slimy poop, and before you know they dead. I think - up until you have managed to get a group of Juvenile Dicus - raised them ALL to adulthood, with them all being of similar "adult - size", dont call them easy.
Many people have made those statements here, and then posted pics of their two year old fish only to hear that they are stunted due to incorrect husbandry.

I am not trying to shortchange what you said - please see it as a request - Discus might be easier than portrayed by most - which is done purely to "uplift" the profile of the fish and keep prices high - as well as for its keepers to be able to belong to the imaginery "Discus Club" - However - they are NOT easy!

Regards

Marco

 

Hi Marco,

Thanks for the comment. Yes I did have a problem with feeding them but that issue had been resolved. Tell you how if you want to know. They look perfectly healthy. Maybe I wasnt clear on my comment, what I meant to say was that it was easy to get them settled into their new home, nevertheless its time and effort into keeping them healthy and importantly keep the water quality to its optimum for the fish. Lots of cleaning, water changes, sure you know all the work involved. I had done alot of research on my own. I dont want to sound cocky, I have been keeping fsh for years now, some difficult species such as mudskippers which I kept for years, but I also had my failures. Its the first time I heard about "discus club" my intensions to keep discus is for my pleasure and nothing else. To sum up, what you said some portray them as very very difficult fish to keep. I dont know how to state it in a kind manner (sorry im afrikaans) but I "dislike" people who discourge fish keepers into keeping certain fish. I believe if you had done your homework, whats the worry? In the end its up to you. Your comment made me even more determined to grow them to adult fish and keep them for a long period of time. Please dont see it as an attack on you, I want to see more fish hobbyists. The perception that people have who considered keeping fish is that its difficult, he or she can only keep goldfish and guppys. Members of TASA should promote fish keeping, not discourage them into keeping fish. I sometimes get angry. Just one question, how many new members return after their first visit? Something to think about.

Regards

Hannes

 

@Vissie I don't think the aim is to discourage people into not taking up the hobby. I think (and agree in most cases) that the new hobbyist should not "jump" into a project with fish of the specialist caliber like ie. discus, oscars or dwarf cichlids to name a few. "Most" new hobbyists are under the impression that keeping fish is as easy as 'just add water'. And also they underestimate the maintenance involved (this I have 1st hand experience with) or kick up the hobby when that R400 fish "just" die. All we want to do is gradually lead new hobbyists into growing and learning through experience shared and gained by those failures mentioned. We all have our ultimate goals in what we want to achieve with the hobby... Be it to breed show guppies by the thousands or raising that 1 single altum angel baby into a mature heart stealing adult

 

Hi @Vissie

I dont want us to turn this thread into something it was not intended.

Hahaha - there is no such thing as "discus-club" - I was merely trying to be agreeable to your comments that I also acknowledge that many people portray Discus as being hectically difficult just so they can, in their minds belong to something they help keep exclusive. You with me?

I am FULLY on your side - Discus are not as difficult to keep as many pretend. Yet you yourself agree to the following:

So you see what I am getting at? Its not "easy". Apart from that, in time you will still learn that with Discus, one minute they are perfectly happy - only to find them dark and troubled when you wake the next morning. Lets not kid about this - Goldfish are easy - Discus are not.

You say you get angry when people make Discus out as too difficult to keep, or only for a select few. I can understand that. Do you mind me sharing what gets me angry though - People who think they have kept 20 guppy's for a few months so how difficult can Discus be? They get them - mess them up - come here for advice and end up not liking what they get told. I honestly dont mind you even "getting cocky" about it, (you didnt sound cocky though, by the way) as long as you dont mind me being anal about it?
I not only love this hobby - I first and foremost love Discus - its in my blood - so when they are put at risk by comments such as "They are easy to keep" I step in before countless more of them get killed by unskilled and ill-informed keepers.

I would like to answer your last question in the following manner - Tasa definitly promotes fishkeeping - just read the threads. However, TASA promotes responsible fishkeeping! So, if I end up "chasing away" members, but I end up saving fish in the process - I feel I have achieved more. Unfortunately there is no emotion in "type" so some people take words up wrong, adding to it a manner of emotion in which it was said that suits their mood. I have been here two years and can assure you - TASA wants new members, but we do not want members who come here thinking "they know it all", as none of us do.

I really do hope you see my comments as being in the best interest of Discus, and not as an attack on you - its not what it is.

Kind regards

marco

 

Most definitely the most lively Discus (Discii?) I've ever seen! Loving it!

Oh and epic idea on the sump there bud!

 

me, I'm :sick: with fish-envy! Lucky sod! Keep the pics coming @jedigenie!

 

Really nice setup jedigenie.

@Marco, Bad Boy, why is it that we only see pics of the fish after they have already been shipped elsewhere.

 

Gosh I'm always surprised by the passion people bring to this hobby. I'm starting to feel its safe comparing it to a religion hahaha.

Thanks for the kind words everyone

 

Bwahaha, but still fishkeeping will cost you less

*runs and hides*